Test Drive Santhome Mission Jun. 2014 | Page 28

rehabilitation center and became functional from December 2009. Fr. Binish, the then in charge of Deepthi Nivas took an earnest interest in the packing Unit in its early days and gave it a firm footing by segregating the children based on their skill potential to perform different functions of the packing work. Fr. Sojan after returning from Germany took over as head of Deepti Nivas. I find in Fr. Sojan an affable and energetic person always on the lookout for opportunities to provide gainful employment to women and differently abled children. It was his efforts which made Lunar Chappals to come forward to provide work to women at Deepti Nivas. Now, a well established V Guard unit functions at Deepti Nivas, thanks to unfailing guidance of Fr. Sojan and the ever forthcoming support of Father fraternity and Sisters. The Deepti Nivas Training and rehabilitation center has made a lot of discernible change in the behaviour and thinking of these children including SUCCESS STORY my son. Now, I see my son as a person with a purpose and self esteem. He feels that he is worth something. Now he is not idle but a responsible worker earning money for himself. What was considered as hopeless is now full of hope. That is, Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya, and that is Deepthi Nivas, Kalenahally. STORY OF Punith Kumar P unith Kumar was born in the year 1992 in a rural village 15 kilometres away from Mandya. His parents were farmers and he was the second child in the family. He is having also an younger sister who is also intellectually challenged. Immediately after his birth his parents noticed that there is something wrong with the development of the child. They took the child to the nearby hospital and the doctor has referred the child to All India Institute of Speech and Hearing in Mysore. After making all the tests the doctor declared that the child is microcephalus with mental retardation. His parents were at a mess as they did not know how to manage the child. They gave the child some of the medicines given by the doctor and continued to look after him as they could do. 28 SANTHOME MISSION