Category: Background
Deepam’s evolution
It started out as a playground under the trees In January 1992, two Italian ladies from Auroville gathered children who had special needs in the local village of Kuilapalayam, in Tamil Nadu / South India, on the so-called ‘playground’ under some big tamarind trees. At that time, there were mainly children with intellectual challenges and […]
The meaning of our name
The meaning of our name: A typical earthen oil lamp is called a “Deepam”. Deepam means light or flame. We chose this symbolic name for our project because we intend to bring light into the lives of children with special needs. Traditionally in Tamil Nadu for centuries, the Deepam Festival of Light is celebrated in […]
Diagnoses and applied therapies
In the local rural villages, we face all kinds of special needs. Mostcommon is learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and hearing impairment. Different types of muscular dystrophy are also common. We do also see children who suffer from hemiplegia and different congenital disorders such as Down Syndrome. Many children suffered from birth asphyxia and therefore have […]
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many children do you have at Deepam? What happens with the children who grow into adults? How is Deepam funded? How many children do you have at Deepam? Around 30 children and youth attend our special education program for the full day, five days a week. Additionally, approximately 15 babies and small children come […]
