The document summarizes the history and achievements of AshaKiran Special School for mentally challenged children in Hoshiarpur, India. It describes how the school started with just two staff members and a few students meeting in one room, and has now grown to serve 160 students with 25 staff members in their own building. The school has helped students succeed in sports, winning 26 medals at the state level competition and having two students selected for the Indian team for the World Special Olympics. Students have also excelled in cultural competitions, winning prizes at the state level. The school aims to continue providing opportunities for specially-abled children to reach their full potential.

1. The problem is not in person’s disability.
The problem is society’s view of the person’s
abilities!
Origin: In world of full of pity givers rather than helpers!
There existed one who doesn’t believe in showing pity at
specially abled children rather he came up with vision and
kind act of helping them by creating and generating
oppurtinuites. NRI Sh.Tejpal Singh, Head of few
philanthropists came with thought of providing a shelter to
mentally challenged children of Hoshiarpur. Along with
team of kind and altruistic people he laid the formation of
“ASHADEEP WELFARE SOCIETY” in August, 1995.
“ASHAKIRAN- SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR MENTALLY
CHALLENGED”. The school started with one room, one
chair, two benches and two staff members to teach. With
passage of time, number of students increased but getting a
school building was still a distant shot to make. Meanwhile,
another philanthropist Sh. Om Prakash Sood came as ray of
help and offered a rent free building but still the
requirements were not fulfilled. Then appeared the helping
hand for school S. Paramjit Singh Sachdeva, a helper from
Mumbai and donated Rs.12 lacs for construction of building.
Meanwhile, S. Jagjit Singh Sachdeva, father of S. Paramjit
Singh Sachdeva passed away. So the name of school
changed to “S. Jagjit Singh Sachdeva AshaKiran School” in
2002 after the name of his father as the token of
remembrance and grace.
We all are grateful to
GOD for bestowing us
senses. Eyes to see the
world’s beauty, tongue
to express, ear to hear,
hands & legs to work
and the brain to think.
Think differently! Have
you ever seen someone
born with mental
disabilities in world of
brainy and calculative
people all around?
Definitely yes! Many
must have but with
pitying and benevolent
eye! Think for once, do
those really need any
mercy or clemency from
us!

2. Vision: The team started with only one mission of helping specially abled children and creating
learning opportunities for them. They believe “A child is like a butterfly in the
wind. Some can fly higher than others but each one flies the best it
can! Why compare one against the other?
Each one is different
Each one is special
Each one is beautiful”
The world worries about disability more than disabled people do
Journey: Starting with two staff members, a few children and a pair of chair & benches and
transforming into school of 160 children and 25 staff members was not easy task! In initial days,
the welfare society even faced many problems regarding school building and school utilities due
to lesser funds and capital investment. None thought of levels they will reach when they started.
Transforming one room school to a building is like making castle in air! And yes! They build the
castle in air! Talking of time when everyone believed that mentally abled children have no
future, neither can they express nor their life will lead to anywhere. Ashakiran came as only

3. hope. It’s not less than sun’s ray on a foggy day! A day with mist and fog all around and there
comes sparkle of light that finally enlightened lives of many. Not only the children but also their
parents. Parents of specially abled children. None can feel their pain! Their helplessness when
they see their kids beneath or lesser than other! Here’s a message by parent of Specially abled
children.
The team of Ashakiran School!
In my world you are perfect! You may not be
perfect in the eye of others but you are
absolutely perfect to me. I can see beyond
your exterior. I can see the beautiful child I
was blessed with! The child that has taught
me about life and the real meaning of love!
The child that has shown me that a twinkle
in an eye says more than any words and that
a simple hug can give you the strength to
keep moving and growing! The real strength
I have gained from my kid. My special kid!

4. The team that worked hard day and night for changing lives of many students. Someone has
rightly said, “Teachers are like candle, they burn themselves and
enlighten lives of their students” The staff indeed sparkled lives of
many and have spread endless smiles and still spreading smiles!
They believe, “In teaching the physically handicapped the only limits are
imposed by ignorance”
Achievements of School: The dedicated school staff and management made headway not
only in teaching the kids but also made them strong for participating in sports. Yeah! Sports, the
children fought tooth and finally achieved their goals. Some achievements are listed below!
Sports Achievements
Apart the vocational and school level sports activities, School reached at new milestone. School
students participated in PUNJAB STATE SPECIAL and won 26 medals! It’s just beginning;
they have been state champion in handball. School staff and students, all set to ace the sports and
are proving at every stage, “Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just
one thing well, you are needed by someone!” it seems like the kids are on roller coaster
taking away all the medals and titles, not only at state level but also in world special Olympics. 2
children named Sukhwinder Singh and Gulshan Kumar were selected as probable for team India
which will participate at world Special Olympics. They are now unstoppable!

5. School kids being congratulated after winning at world Olympics!
Cultural Achievements
Not only in sports but the school kids are phenominal at cultural events too. They have won
many prizes at state level competitions. 2 kids even declared as best performers at state events.
Who says, disability is a hindrance and unconquered hurdle. These kids are challenging the
convention norms at every stage. They have justified the world “it’s not the disability
that differs you; it’s how you deal with the challenges.”
Special Kid performing at cultural event!
Rehabilitation council approval
Beyond wildest dreams, Ashakiran is swiftly moving forwards to attain new heights. With every
new day, their new sunshine for them, a new world to deal with and here they are buckling down
and winning over every problem. The rehabilitation council of India has approved a 2 year
diploma in Special Education (MR). The diploma gives the volunteers right and authority to
teach the special kids and spread the world’s innocent smiles.

6. Help us: A hand help is worth than 1000 words of advice. The kids and school needs help for
spreading smiles and happiness. Be the part of school by giving little help. Your help and support
needed utmost. You can extend your help by following means:
 Payment mode: you can pay cash, cheque, and demand draft in favor of ASHAKIRAN
WELFARE SOCIETY (REGD). A little help of yours means a lot. Join hands in
spreading happiness!
 Volunteering: you can be a volunteer in teaching kids
 Corporate Support: companies can support our projects by granting funds, donations and
sponerships. Be the part of change!
Change is only possible, if we do something to make it happen. Let’s
join hands in hands and help them to see the world with better
perceptive and vision!