World Jewish Relief gives vital health and employment boost to people with disabilities in Mumbai

Over the course of three years, the new project, called Building Enabling Communities, will help 1,600 people with disabilities – including 400 Jewish people – find better livelihoods through an innovative community based programme of training, advice and contact-building.

The project, run on the ground by major charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, will be centred on Mumbai’s Jewish community and surrounding non-Jewish communities.

Currently, around one in four of India’s Jewish population live in Mumbai, and around 10% of those people have birth and age-related disabilities. Disability is a significant barrier to employment across India’s disabled population, who are 60% less likely to be employed than the non disabled population.

Initially, the project is supporting disabled people with health and rehabilitation services, alongside training for employment and job placements in retail, hospitality, IT and financial institutions. Work has already begun, with both individuals who live in the community and those who live at a residential home run by Leonard Cheshire already receiving support.

World Jewish Relief has been working in India since 2008, when the charity started supporting a similar project delivered by Leonard Cheshire in Tamil Nadu. The community based health and rehabilitation programme works in 50 villages that were seriously affected by the 2004 Asian Tsunami, focusing on the critical health and rehabilitation needs of more than 1,800 disabled people.

Lena Choudary-Salter, Leonard Cheshire Disability Asia Senior Programme Manager, comments:

"The grant enables us to reach thousands of disabled people, and their families, by supporting them with training and skills for the workplace. This programme will make a huge difference to the beneficiaries and their families, giving them more independence and choice."

Stacey Swimer, Programmes Director at World Jewish Relief, said:

“This programme reflects an exciting expansion of the WJR’s work in India, where there is a small but significant Jewish community. Building Enabling Communities will improve the lives of hundreds of people - not just meeting their immediate needs, but equipping them with the skills they need to lift themselves out of poverty.”

The programme will:

• Improve access to health rehabilitation services for people with disabilities

• Improve livelihood opportunities for people with disabilities

• Establish sustainable community based solutions in the project locations

• Increase awareness on the rights of people with disabilities amongst the families, communities and service providers

One family who have benefitted from the scheme is former driver, Siyon, lives with his wife, Hava, and 19 year old son, Evan, in Panvel near Mumbai.

In 2008, Siyon lost his job after he suffered a paralytic stroke and, afterwards, a fall, which left him immobile and unable to drive. Left dependent on Hava and Evan for care, and without income, Siyon lost his confidence and the whole family risked falling into poverty. 

Last year, the Satamkar family got involved with World Jewish Relief and Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Building Enabling Communities (BEC) project.

The BEC team arranged a support plan for Siyon, and put Hava in touch with Moshe’s -a local Jewish café, who could offer her employment. They also arranged careers advice for Evan.

Now Siyon receives regular visits from the physiotherapist, who has developed a tailored exercise programme for him, and ensures he attends routine medical consultations. Hava and Evan are both employed, and the whole family is set to attend family counseling sessions.

BEC’s support has not only enabled the Satamkar family to gain a steady income again; it has restored their self esteem leaving them empowered to meet the challenges of their changed situation.