The charity 2bears.org supports the Peoples Craft Training Center (PCTC) , which is based in the rural district of Tiruvannamalai. The center works with deprived and disabled children, helping to increase their independence, socialising and offering valuable parental support. The setting and atmosphere at the two centres PCTC run is one of peace and full of love. There is a wide range of ages and disabilities but their spirit and determination seems as one.
The children and their families welcomed us into their homes and shared their stories of hardship . There was one childs story that I found difficult to manage my emotions. He is eleven years old and spent all the time I saw him smiling and watching others, unable to walk unaided. Zavier , the organiser of PCTC, told us he suffered from muscular dystrophy (MD). Children who have this muscle weakening disease can gradually lose the ability to do the things most people take for granted, like walking or sitting up. I have a son very similar age to this child and it was hard to imagine how I would cope with such a crippling disease, particularly with little money or support. Stories like his remind you of how valuable the work such centre’s like PCTC really are.
playaway.org.uk 