We had the opportunity to visit the Pra Foundation, a safe home for children with special needs including those with Cerebral Palsy with the Josh team over the weekend.
This was a pre planned one day road trip and just like myself the others on the team had an intent to help the institution and contribute their time and skills in their best possible way on a hot Saturday in July.
On reaching the foundation, which is located in a small village 16 kms away from Saswad, each of us were welcomed with Marigold flowers and haldi kumkum by the founder Dr. Prajakta Borade & Ex. Navy Official Mr. Deshmukh and a few children from Pra Foundation.
Dr. Prajakta told us her story of personal losses, grief, societal insensitivity towards specially abled children. Stories of people keeping black voodoo dolls and other unpleasantries outside their facility. Parents and their helplessness and various financial and societal limitations they faced. The journey of how she started this 18 years ago, still passionately doing it and blessed to have a team of dedicated staff for cooking, provisioning medical aid and day to day activities.
They also plan to introduce Occupational Therapies for the children at Pra Foundation soon.
We were already overwhelmed by such a warm welcome when Mr. Deshmukh guided us around the place to see the various facilities added gradually for the well being and mobility of the children. He proudly showed us a ramp built for easy wheel chair access inside the house and also a new vehicle with a ramp facility newly added to the list of their possessions.
Our team met the enthusiastic children of Pra Foundation and interacted with those who were comfortable. The children at Pra Foundation paint around 2,00,000 diyas for their Diwali orders along with the help of in-house staff and volunteers. The Josh team was looking forward to showcase their own skills at Diya painting along with the children.
However, it was lunchtime for the kids after which they were scheduled for their regular medicines and Dr. Prajakta requested us to follow the same schedule, She led into the clean, well ventilated and simple dining room.
The aromas from the kitchen made us forget all corporate manners and formalities.
As we sat down for lunch we were served Bajri Bhakri, Bharli Vangi, Thecha, Alu chi Bhaji, Chana Pulav and sweets. Dr. Prajakta, in her warm and hospitable nature suggested us to eat like we hadn’t ever before. And we did just that.
Delicious, homely food with all the ingredients like Bajri, grown in the farms of Hurde and non polished pure organic living couldn’t be bought from City Malls.
Post lunch we all sat down for a couple of hours of Diya Painting, followed by an energetic dance zumba session led by the Josh team and totally blended in with Dr, Prajakta’s graceful dancing and her children vibing in ever so enthusiastically. We then had a chance purchasing different merchandise made by the children.
They offered useful items like tote bags, travel pouches, jewellery organisers with a wide choice and priced at economical rates.
As we bid farewell to the kids at Pra Foundation, our hearts were full of happiness and dopamine for the day.
However the trip didn’t end there.
Dr. Prajakta and her team took us to a nearby waterbody and a farm house where we walked through Mango orchards, Custard Apple trees, Amla, Guava, Passion Fruit, Daisies, Roses, Green Chillies on small shrubs.
We also saw that groundnuts actually grow underground! You might say you already knew that from the name, but did you know that the groundnut farming is called “bhuimoong” and the flowers on these plants are bright yellow in colour.
We city folks miss so much!
Among us, we had a Software Engineer from Josh with a background in horticulture and he found the tiniest cucumbers, the size of berries. At first I didn’t believe it till I actually tasted it.
Just when we thought we had all the fun we spotted beautiful peacocks in the wild along with stunning scenic views. With a cup of hot tea in the cold evening breeze along with rustic handmade bhel with fresh onion from the farm was better than any High-Tea at luxury restaurants.
The sunset signalled us that it was time for us to head back to the city. It was a day where we learned a lesson in humility and be grateful everyday for all the abilities and facilities one is blessed with.
The drive back home was one with a TEAM and not 17 individuals travelling together.
We got to know each other a little more that day!
I’m sure something shifts internally, maybe even subconsciously- when you experience some things together.
Josh Software 