Our team

Our Team

Step by step, Deepam has evolved into a therapeutic center for children and young people with a wide range of special needs. Currently, we regularly support approximately 50 beneficiaries from many of the surrounding villages. If needed, we also provide support to families, including medical assistance, assessments, and aids and equipment.

Angelika Ehrle, an occupational therapist from Germany, has been involved with the project since its beginnings in 1992. In 2000, Lawrence Selvi, a certified nurse from India, joined the project, and together they have been running it ever since. The administrative tasks and requirements related to fundraising, accounting, and reporting have increased tremendously in recent years.

Over the years, the team has grown to 15 committed and highly motivated members, including three cleaners/kitchen helpers, one gardener, and one driver for a larger bus and a smaller van.

Our work has many facets, as we work with beneficiaries of different ages and with different diagnoses. We work holistically, providing healthcare and nutrition, education and therapies, as well as support for their families.

Each of our team members has different tasks and responsibilities according to their professional skills and individual strengths. In addition to working with the children, there are many other areas that need to be taken care of: materials, buildings, and vehicles need to be maintained; cultural events, festivals, and outings need to be organized; and there are many other day to day tasks such as shopping and cleaning.

Working together as a team can sometimes be challenging, but it is also very rewarding. Our weekly team meeting is essential. During these meetings, we share information about the children and discuss any problems that have arisen. Some topics come up frequently. Sometimes we have very different views, which can also be fruitful, as most of the time we find solutions that are acceptable to everyone.

We strive to continuously improve our skills and our program.

Most important, however, is the dedication of our team members and their love of and joy in working with children and young people with special needs.

Some Voices from Our Team

“Deepam is a wonderful project – something about this place touches me deeply. I think it is probably because I come from a village in this area myself and have known some of our children since they were born. In the past, nobody cared for them. They had no friends and simply sat around like beggars. Today, these children from my village are very happy and benefit so much from Deepam. I would like to thank everyone who makes this project possible!”

“I am very grateful for all the years and all the challenges I have encountered, which have helped me grow as a person. When the small project began under the trees, it was impossible to imagine where we would be today. I am grateful to all the many people who have helped build the project. Over the years, many volunteers and members of our team have worked hard. Without the financial support of our donors, Deepam would not have become what it is today. I learn a lot from exchanging ideas with the people from our local community who are part of our team. They often have very different approaches to dealing with problems.”

“I had worked in different places before, but nowhere did I experience the kind of team spirit we have at Deepam. Deepam also helps to improve the personal lives of the people who work here.”

“I have a lot of freedom to put my ideas into practice. Here, I have the opportunity to discover and develop my own talents.”

“Day by day, I see progress in my patients. That makes me very happy. At Deepam, I feel at home.”

“These children are very special at heart and very receptive when they receive the right support. At Deepam, the children are protected and their individual abilities and needs are respected.”