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The kingdom’s bakers that united to whisk up funds for Sneha’s recreation centre for children with special needs has raised more than BD1,000, writes Mai Al-Khatib-Camille.
Chef Ekta Sethi, who is a member of the global Ovenderful Mom Bakers Community, had launched a Ramadan Healthy Bake Sale charity event to raise awareness about the benefits of wholesome desserts, as well as to aid the centre which is run by the Indian Ladies Association (ILA).
The funds collected from the sale of breads, muffins, cakes, cupcakes and cookies has now been counted and collected and will help in funding the centre’s operations, activities and classes, which are currently being held virtually as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.
“Thank you is a very small word when it comes to the bakers of the Ramadan Bake Sale group,” said Nisha Rangarajan, ILA’s honorary president.
“We still have to pay rent for the venue that we will be going back to soon, once the schools start physically, that is, salaries of two special educators, the therapists that we provide from time to time and we are also planning to have routine medical check-ups done in the second half of the year.
“The Indian Ladies Association is truly indebted to Ekta, who is an ILA member, in initiating this charity drive. She and the other bakers have raised an outstanding amount that has been contributed toward the welfare of Sneha.”
Sneha is an ILA flagship project that started as an informal playgroup for children with special needs in December 1987 by four of the group’s members. And, over time, it flourished into a thriving centre with 20 children of different nationalities and disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and physical disabilities.
“The main aim at Sneha is to provide a safe haven for children with special needs,” added Nisha. “A lot of work, planning and effective execution goes into the successful running of Sneha; a work done with loving sincerity of this subcommittee.
“Truly it can be said, without any doubt, that this subcommittee actually lives the motto of ILA which is ‘service without self’. Our aim is to enable students to grow to their fullest potential by providing free appropriate and designed activities to fit their unique abilities and to make them effective members of society.”
Since the pandemic, the centre has been running classes virtually to keep the youngsters entertained and educated under the guidance of Deepa Devanarayan and Aarti Phadke.
“Our aim has been to maintain an organised classroom-style and limit distractions and breakdown instructions into smaller, manageable tasks ... given the nature of our children,” said Nisha. “And, today, we are proud to say that we have successfully completed more than a month.
“With nine dedicated volunteers and two experienced teachers, we are doing our best to conduct classes virtually, five-days-a-week, to 12 children with special needs.
“We have followed the same timings of 9am to 11am but have divided the childeren into groups according to their ability and age.”
The classes are run for 20 minutes each on an online ‘one-child-one-volunteer’ basis.
“It starts with a group prayer and then every volunteer is sent separately to a ‘break-out room’ for 20 minutes each with a child giving personal attention to do their exercise, communication skills, gross motor activities, social skills and life skill activities which are specifically-designed to cater to a child’s ability,” explained Nisha.
“We thank the parents who assist them at home and we’re really proud and happy when parents have taken such a keen interest.”
The children continue to participate in an array of art and crafts classes, including making bookmarks, diya painting (small cup-shaped oil lamp made of baked clay) and shagun envelopes (gift envelopes), which supporters can purchase from the centre to help raise further funds.
The students have also participated in dance classes, therapy classes, cooking sessions, yoga and life skill tasks as well. There are even workshops for parents with special educators.
Ekta said she was delighted that the baking fundraising efforts proved successful and was able to help ILA and Sneha continue its commitment to the children.
“I am very grateful to Bahrain and its lovely people for their support and generosity,” said Ekta. “I would like to express my gratitude to the GDN for their feature helped more bakers join in. I also would like to thank event sponsors Green Beets restaurant and Let Them Eat Cake Bahrain, as well as Awal Dairy and Megamart for sponsoring some of our ingredients.
“Last but not least, I’m so thankful to Gehna Purohit, Kavitha Chowdary, Pia Banerjee D’souza, Amrita Darshan Bhatia, Manjula Akula, Anuradha Vemuri who put in their heart and soul into this bake sale and helped make it such a huge success.”
• Those interested in sponsoring or supporting Sneha can visit www.ilabahrain.org, email ilabahrain@gmail.com or contact Nisha on 39617094.
