Tapoban
Tapoban is a Children’s Home in Pathsala, Assam for abandoned differently-abled children, more commonly known as disabled children in our society.
In 2005, Prof. Kumud Kalita started Tapoban with three children, with his own money and a dream to have a home, one day for the less fortunate and differently-abled children in exquisite surroundings in nature where they could play, run, sing, and enjoy their lives with the highest degree of freedom.
Today Tapoban is home to 30 resident students and around 70 non-resident students with special needs. They provide various training and therapy sessions including Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy, Braille Education, Music, Arts, and sports to all their students to help them overcome some of their challenges and become more independent.
Tapoban is also providing both vocal and instrumental training. One of the biggest achievements that Tapoban is proud of is producing two vocalists Sumi and Purnima, who are visually impaired but are gifted singers. Tapoban serves as a non-profit entity in 4 neighboring districts of Nalbari, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, and Baska and is the only hope for the financially deprived families dealing with their child's disability.
AFNA has been working with Tapoban for many years by supporting their needs from time to time. This year AFNA hopes to do more work and help them achieve a couple of their immediate needs.
Tapoban is one of the rare places in Assam that provides such support for differently-abled children. Assam needs more places like Tapoban to help our children in need so they can be taken care of, and they can become independent one day through training and education.
AFNA first collaborated with Tapoban in April of 2010 with the disbursement of Support-a-Child (S-A-C) scholarships for 11 special children.
● Education - Support-A-Child Scholarship
For the last few years, AFNA’s focus has been on helping two institutes SHED & Tapoban. Both SHED and Tapoban host around 30 differently-abled students in their hostel facilities. They barely charge anything to these students as many of them have no financial means to receive such service. As was done last year, AFNA has provided financial assistance of $3000 each to both Institutions to cover 50% costs of food and lodging for students.
● Education (Mobility) - Tapoban Hydraulic Project 2018 - 2019
AFNA funded a Hydraulic Lift project for Tapoban for their 3 storied students residential building.