By Florine Roche

Karwar, Oct 25: Come March 2019 and Sandesh Krishna Harikanth and Cyril Salu Lopez from Alvekodi of Kumta Taluk of Uttara Kannada will travel to Abu Dhabi to represent India in the Special Olympics World Games 2019.

Sandesh has qualified to represent the country as a table tennis player and Cyril Lopez has qualified to represent the country as a Table Tennis coach. The twist in the story is - Sandesh is the student of Daya Nilaya Special School for mentally challenged children, which is the brainchild of Cyril Lopez.

While most people render only lip service to the well being of mentally and physically challenged children Cyril Lopez is an exception. 'Daya Nilaya Special School' which he established in 2010 has made a difference to the lives of many children with mental disabilities in Uttara Kannada district. This school which has many children with multiple disabilities stands as a testimony to the difference an individual can make to provide a just environment to children with disabilities to live in dignity.

Cyril Salu Lopez established the special school in his own house in 2010 in Kumta Taluk when he was 23 with just three children to begin with. It was a personal incident that made Cyril to dedicate his life in the service of the needy and he did not backtrack despite facing several impediments. Eight years hence Daya Nilaya Special School has succeeded in giving a ray of hope to many children with mental disabilities in and around Uttara Kannada District. When other youngsters of his age were in search of a lucrative career and wanted to get settled, Lopez is toiling hard to run this special school.

The selection of Sandesh Krishna Harikanth to represent the country in table tennis in the forthcoming Special Olympics World Games 2019 is the result of the dedication, determination and diligent with which Lopez worked to hone and nurture his special potential. The hard work and dedication has yielded rich dividend. The duo is now seriously preparing for the challenge ahead and is confident of bringing laurels to the country by winning a medal.

Twin factors

Cyril, a B Com graduate with D Ed and B Ed degrees, says that his polio-affected brother motivated him to start this special school. He started off by teaching to some children in the neighbourhood which gave him an insight into the challenges faced by such children and their parents. “My polio affected younger brother is only physically challenged and is able to manage his functional needs. I am a witness to the struggle undergone by my parents in attending to his needs. It really made me give a deep thought to the challenges faced by mentally challenged children and their parents because these children are unable to carry out their body and other needs or to maintain hygiene”.

He further says, “Such children need unvarying support and care and I felt an innate desire to work for such children resulting in setting up Daya Nilaya. There were many who dissuaded me from going ahead with the plan saying it is not meant for poor people like me to do social service of this nature. But when I sought the advice of one of my teachers he encouraged me and promised his full support giving me the much needed push to fructify my dream”, says Cyril Lopez recalling his initial struggle.

There were hurdles galore as Cyril had to first convince his own family members. “We were eight siblings and we had a small house. To start a school for such children in a portion of the small house was met with resistance. I had no job and I had no other source of income. But I had this young blood in me and I decided to take it as a challenge and have my way. I really do not know from where I got such strength and confidence. Looking back I shudder even to think about the impulsive moment to go ahead with my plan despite opposition. Fortunately, within a few months my family was convinced of the sincerity of my motive and their association with these children changed their thinking. Since then the entire family has been supporting me and helping me in this task of taking care of these children” Cyril recounts.

A family affair

Today the entire family works in tandem to take care of the children of Daya Nilaya. His mother helps in preparing food for children and his brother and sister-in-law work hand in hand with him. Cyril has also roped in the services of a few likeminded retired people who are willing to render their services free of cost to the school. Many others have come forward to offer voluntary service and some employees offer their services by opting for minimum salaries. Cyril requires at least Rs 30,000/- a month to run the school and he has been able to manage it mainly from the donations he received from generous people. With the idea of generating some revenue the children of Daya Nilaya are taught to make Phenyl, soap and a few other items. Few parents of the children also chip in whatever little they can. However, he acknowledges that he has to work really hard to feed and clothe the children.

There are 42 boys with various kinds of mental disabilities currently being looked after and are taught various vocational skills and functional academics apart from harnessing their skills in sports and music at Daya Nilaya. At 30, Cyril is steadfast in his commitment to continue what he started. He has no plans to get married because he says, “I have a big family and I have 42 children as of now and these children give me the happiness and zest for life”.

Lopez points out, “People go to Himalayas and other places in search of heaven. But I have found my heaven and true happiness here amidst these children”.

At Daya Nilaya, a few are day care students whereas there are about 30 residential students whose food, clothing and other needs are taken care of by the school. Students are kept busy through various sports and other extracurricular activities. Since space constraint is a big problem Indoor games like table tennis, archery, boxing, judo that consume less space are taught to the children. Two years ago Cyril got a hall constructed adjoining the house to teach sports and games to the children with the help and donation he received from the public. He fondly recalls the financial help and support given by advocate S P Kamath of Karwar which helped him to construct the hall. There are table tennis tables and other music instruments in the hall. Cyril has also started Daya Nilaya Table Tennis Academy and on Sundays and holidays other children from nearby areas come to learn table tennis.

Music and yoga as therapy

Teaching yoga and music also forms an important part of the curricular activities at Daya Nilaya. “Music and Yoga will help in body mind co-ordination, concentration, flexibility and reduce stress and anxiety. I learnt little bit of music so that I can teach the children. We train them in music instruments like Violin, Harmonium and Veena and decided to teach the same to the children. I could see a marked change in their behaviour, concentration and grasping power ever since we began teaching them music and yoga”, Cyril points out.

Yoga teacher Balakrishna Vasudev Korgaonkar ,popularly called as ‘gym master’ by the children, is associated with Daya Nilaya for the past 6 years. He teaches yoga and some gym activities to the children. Balakrishna was a gym teacher in a Municipal gym in Kumta and after his retirement he is working voluntarily at Daya Nilaya. Though he gets a meagre pension he gives a small portion of it to the school. “I know my contribution is nothing in terms of volume. But I get some satisfaction in sharing a little of what I get. It gives me tremendous satisfaction and sense of purpose for life”, says Balakrishna.

Balakrishna is now busy teaching the children power lifting. He has acquired the required equipments and is happy the children are responding enthusiastically.

Lopez has plans to expand the school to accommodate more children and he is also mulling admitting girl children if everything goes as he planned. He has also sought government help to run the school.

Mentally challenged children, also known as children with intellectual disability are unable to lead an independent life and are often considered as a burden on the family. Some families even confine them within the four walls of their homes in their effort to hide them from relatives and from the society because of the stigma.

The society in large is also oblivious of the potential of children with special needs. Fortunately, individuals like Cyril have been instrumental in providing supportive services and training facilities to help them live a dignified and independent life as much as possible.

Contact: Cyril Salu Lopez - 97383 24664.