Inclusive Libraries for Children of All Abilities in Shillong & Jaintia Hills
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300
Books Goal -
0
Books Received -
59
Days to go
Know more about us
Who we are
Bethany Society is a non-profit, secular, registered charitable organisation established in 1981 in Mendal, East Garo Hills, Meghalaya, under the vision and inspiring leadership of Sister Rosario Lopez. Its headquarters are located in Tura, West Garo Hills District, while its implementing office is based in Shillong, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya.
We work with people in vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities, children, youth, and women living in extreme poverty, particularly those residing in remote rural areas. Through its programmes in Inclusive Education, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Social Inclusion, Bethany Society creates opportunities for persons with disabilities and rural communities across Meghalaya. It also partners with other NGOs in Northeast India to extend its impact.
We dream of an earth fully alive, where everyone enjoys the fullness of being.
Our work and its impact
Bethany Society practices and promotes Inclusive Education in its unit, Jyoti Sroat School, a model of Inclusive Education where children learn together in the same classroom irrespective of any kind of variability. Of the school's 250 enrolled students, nearly half are children with different types of disabilities. This inclusive education model is also being promoted in selected government schools across rural Meghalaya through Bethany Society's projects.
Over the years, the organisation has recognised that reading aloud is largely neglected in many schools, affecting children's reading skills and confidence. To address this, Bethany Society actively promotes joyful reading experiences. Even for children who use ICT for reading, we provide Braille books so they can also experience the joy of reading aloud.
We also aim to promote this approach in the schools we partner with in the Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya. Joyful reading through storybooks motivates children to read aloud more enthusiastically than school textbooks
How we will utilise these books
The Pratham Books' storybooks received through this fundraiser will become part of the school library at Jyoti Sroat School, where teachers will supervise regular reading sessions. The possibility of allowing children to borrow books and take them home will also be explored.
Suitable storybooks will be transcribed into Braille to make reading accessible for children with visual impairments.
For partner schools in rural Meghalaya, where infrastructure is often limited, we will utilise the Pratham Books' hanging library (Library-in-a-classroom) to create accessible reading corners. Teachers will monitor the use of the books and encourage regular reading sessions, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of reading.