Prayatna Helps Kids with Fragile X Syndrome
Want to keep tabs on the New Year and make a difference in the lives of children in need? Buy a calendar for 2011, and help children have a brighter year. Vikram Nandwani of Verry India who earlier sketched caricatures to raise money for the Tiger Fund, is now helping children with special learning needs, with ‘Spread Some Cheer’ – a calender for 2011.
The calendars designed by him cost Rs. 200 each (or $10 for those living abroad) and all funds go directly to Prayatna, a small Pune based NGO to help two children with special needs, Seena and Amar Ali. He says, “’Spread Some Cheer’ is intended to help make the New Year special for these two amazing children suffering from Fragile X Syndrome.”
Seena, 14, and Amar, 9, both suffer from FXS or Martin Bell Syndrome, a genetic syndrome which results in characteristic physical and intellectual limitations. Says Nandwani: “It costs 2000 rupees to take care of one child for a month and I hope that we will be able to collect enough to fund special education for these two children for 2011 at Prayatna. We have already collected Rs. 30,000 of the targeted amount.”
More details about the calendars here
ABOUT PRAYATNA (www.prayatnapune.org)
Prayatna is an NGO started in 1997 for mentally challenged people to provide an overall development in physical, personal,emotional and social areas. They take care of around 40 special students and offer multi-faceted education which includes academics, self Help Skills, socio-emotional skills and vocational training.
WHAT IS FRAGILE X SYNDROME?
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), or Martin-Bell syndrome, is a genetic syndrome which results in a spectrum of characteristic physical and intellectual limitations and emotional and behavioral features which range from severe to mild in manifestation. Fragile X is the most common known single gene cause of autism and the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. Currently, the syndrome can be treated through behavioral therapy, special education, and when necessary, treatment of physical abnormalities.
