Freedom Carnival is an ad hoc celebration organised by Ooruni Foundation under ”Give Their World” Project as an annual event for kids with learning disabilities and development disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, Aperger syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
The importance of the event is to make the special kids explore their possibilities in a fun filled environment,where the infrastructure as per their needs are provided in the forms of games to play, moves to express, quench their thirst of freedom to be themselves.
High time to create an understanding about their deficiency issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with these deficiencies. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with special abilities and special needs in every aspect of social, economic and cultural life. This annual event is always celebrated on the Independence day of India, on 15th August every year since 2017, for special kids by providing them and their parents with a vibrant experience. It is an endeavour to bring in a new perspective in the social view to accept, support and strengthen those blessed gifts of the Almighty.
Venue: MNM Jain Engineering College, Thoraipakkam, Chennai.
Attendance: 1500 kids accompanied by 650 parents and caretakers.
Highlights: A book titled “Give Their World” was released commemorating the legacy and success of Freedom Carnival.
Freedom Carnival 2019 had many highlights to mention as the focus was given on the overall development and balancing of physical, mental and emotional well being of all the participants. A strong support was extended by Special Child Assistance Network (SCAN), a group of parents who wanted to meet, discuss and share experiences of having a child with special needs. Expert conversations were also organised Wherein Mrs. RajaRajeshwari – Consultant Physiotherapist and Specialist in Developmental Paediatrics delivered her expertise, followed by an experiential talk by Mr. Sriram, a special parent who shared the inspirational experience of his life with a special kid.
The Parkour space at the Freedom Carnival was about the exciting possibilities that can be explored by everyone with proper guidance and technique, in overcoming obstacles that we come across in our physical and mental environment, was a new addition. Tarang, a Self Help Group of Differently abled was on board with FC19, supplying mid morning snacks to all, prepared and served by specially abled people, inspiring those present there. An energetic engagement for all the participants was Anybody Can Dance (ABCD), conducted by G. Kavya Krithika, Counselling psychologist and a passionate dancer and choreographer, was an exclusive platform for special children and adults to move with beats and dance their hearts out. Science based understanding and learning for the routine actions which we do in our day to day activities was experimented and explained by Arivarasan .V, who is the Program Director of Parikshan Charitable Trust. Preenu Ashok, a creative therapist gave an Artistic twist to the carnival using art as a form of intervention, in treating behavioural and psychological problems. Adding to the fun, Puppetry workshop and show was also arranged which was done by Isai Prakash, a passionate creative artist, story teller, photographer, traveller and a puppeteer.
Thus the Freedom Carnival ended successfully with a thanking note by Mr. Arumugam, Trustee of Ooruni Foundation, with a strengthened prospect to parents and an ensured promise by Ooruni to bring it better in the following years.
Venue: Annai Velankanni College, Saidapet.
Attendance: 850 Childrens and parents.
Highlights: To create a support eco system for special kids by providing special insights to teachers, assistants and domain consultants.
Venue: Niepmd.
Attendance: 300 Children’s and parents.
Highlights: To create a support eco system for special kids by providing special insights to teachers, assistants and domain consultants.