On the last day of the academic year 2024-2025 ending on 12th April 2025, BMMNC celebrated the graduation ceremony of their tiny tots who are Moving Ahead – which is, facilitating Children with Developmental Delays/Intellectual disability to move on to school education in special and mainstream schools on completion of the Early Intervention Program, Upanayan at MNC.
Over the past 17 years, about 255 children have been successfully enrolled in the mainstream schools / Special Schools, since Moving Ahead was initiated. This year we are celebrating the 17th Moving Ahead. This year 13 children from EIC and 1 Student from Jivikam will be moving to other Mainstream schools / special schools / Jivikam Skill Development Unit and to Vocational Training.
The children donned their graduation gowns, received a school bag as gift and exhibited their talents by presenting skits, action songs etc. This year there were two presentations by the children. The children from Jivikam presented a “Kolattam” and the children of EIC performed a skit. ”Udavum Karadi” and the parents performed the concluding dance of the programme.
Old parents spoke about their experiences in reaching thus far. Mrs. Chandra Balaraman mother of student Sai Krithvik said she owes a lot to MNC. Mr. Murugesan an alumnus of the 90s pursuing an arts degree in college said that it was in MNC he learnt that disability can be managed. His words were inspiration to other parents in the audience as he narrated how he finished school in spite of the fact that the other children bullied him and he had to resort to a scribe to take the exams.
Mrs. Poonam Natarajan, the Chief Guest, Founder Director of Vidya Sagar, appreciated the teachers and the management for doing such a noble service to the disability sector and promised to help in whatever way was possible by her. She said that Vidya Sagar would render the needed help for children in Jivikam for vocational training. She said we could promote weaving among the children which is currently in trend and easy to train. In fact, the one student from Jivikam – Aakash is jointing the Vidya Sagar Weaving Unit in Thakar Baba Vidyalaya in T Nagar.
Mrs. Revathy the coordinator of the event proposed a vote of thanks. The ceremony came to an end with the National anthem and light refreshments.
