My Journey as ENVISION’s Fellow 2015
Passang Bhuti
After I completed my masters in clinical Psychology in 2015, I was on the lookout for professional experience to start on with my career. It was quite daunting at that time because I hardly knew anyone or any organization that could steer me in that direction and support me with the necessary information and fund. However, one day while I was going through my Facebook page, I saw the fellowship announcement by Empowering the Vision Project. The fellowship offered financial support for eligible young Tibetans to pursue their career interest through internships or short-term courses. I thought it would be great for a Tibetan youth like me to avail this opportunity.
Soon after, I got in touch with the office and applied for the fellowship, submitting the necessary documents including the ‘SOP’ Statement of Purpose. Later following my telephonic interview with Envision’s Director Youdon Aukatsang that went very well, I was informed of my selection by the Envision’s office. Not only did Envision grant me funding support, they also helped me with my internship placement with ADAPT-Able Disabled All People Together (formerly Spastic society of India), Mumbai.
On the last week of September right before heading to Mumbai for my internship, I was asked to visit the Envision’s office in Delhi for a proper briefing. Here I was also introduced to Tenzin Norzin (then we were strangers but now we are best friends) another Envision Fellow leaving for Mumbai for her internship in Public Relations. Director of Envision gave us a brief about the organisation and the expectations from us as Envision Fellows.
In the month of October, (October till 8th of April) I started my internship with ADAPT-Mumbai, living in their campus hostel with Tenzin Norzin. Initially, I felt challenged in a new place and surroundings, but with time and a Tibetan friend as my roommate, things changed for the better and I started enjoying my stay at ADAPT. For the first three months, Mr Sudeep Pagedar was the coordinator of my internship and Ms Aisha (Psychologist) the supervisor. Through them, I heard the inspiring story of a mother, Dr Mithu Alur- founder chairperson of ADAPT, with a Cerebral palsy child of her own and how she built the centre. I came to know how the organisation transformed from being a special school to the inclusive education centre. I studied the cases of differently abled children who were studying there. I observed their classroom sessions and behaviour modification sessions with keen interest. I was moved by the impact of such a small centre in rehabilitating children with different abilities and disabilities.
After 3 months of studying, I joined the “Community Initiatives in Inclusion” training course in ADAPT, part of my six–month internship. Through the course, I learnt a lot professionally and personally too. My perspective on children and person with disability totally changed. Earlier I looked at them with the medical/sympathetic approach, but after this course, I look at them through a rights-based approach/social model that is inclusive and humane. I came to know the importance of Inclusion that is including all people in community activities, education and employment without any discrimination of their race, caste, culture, religion, colour and disabilities. It is every person’s basic human right. According to our Buddhist philosophy that says ‘we all beings are interdependent and that all human beings want happiness, ’ I believe it is true for people with disabilities too. I think ‘Inclusion’ is the way through which we can have a Better World.
I believe I have acquired the skills to make a difference in the community through this Internship. There are many children, youths and elderly in the Tibetan society with physical and mental disabilities. Their guardians, families and the centres hosting them must have the necessary skills and tools to address these special needs and concerns. I already have a three-month Action Plan (part of my Internship module) through which I will be working closely with families and caretakers of children with disability. I have chosen Dickyiling Tibetan settlement, Dehradun as my area of focus and the Ngoenga School as the Center. I look forward to this new task and am hopeful that I will be able to work with our community and CSO’s in building a better and inclusive society for people with disabilities.
I am really grateful to Empowering the Vision for giving me this learning opportunity and the support not just financial but moral too. Thanks to the staff of Envision for accommodating our requests and concerns along the way and making it easier for us to continue our Internship without any trouble. I will prove I was worthy of this Fellowship.