Special Needs Camps

About The Special Needs Camps

The 2001 Indian Census reports that 21.9 million people of the total Indian population (2.13%) are disabled. Out of which, 7 million (1.67% of the total population) are children and teens who are living with a disability. They are the most neglected, rejected and isolated group in India. LCMI is one of the first ministries to have 5 day overnight camps for children with special needs and their parent/guardian.

The church in India for the most part is absent in reaching the children with Special Needs. In fact in our research and study, we hardly found an organized ministry/program focused on these children among the main line churches.

However, it is encouraging to note that there are few Para-church organizations and some families who have special needs children and have begun orphanages and homes to care for these children. LCMI is one of the first ministries to have 5 day over night camps for children with special needs and their parent/guardian.

The 2001 Indian Census reports that 21.9 million people of the total Indian population (2.13%) are disabled. Out of which, 7 million (1.67% of the total population) are children and teens who are living with a disability. They are the most neglected, rejected and isolated group in India. This data includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, physical and mental impairments.

Children with Disabilities Statistics:

• In India 1.67% of the 0-19 population has a disability.
• 35.29% of all people living with disabilities are children.
• Some estimates say that India has 12 million children living with disabilities.
• Only 1% of children with disabilities have access to school and one third of most disabilities are preventable.
• Under-nutrition is a severe problem with children who suffer from cerebral palsy.
• In India 80% of children with disabilities will not survive past age forty.
• Many of the causes of disability are preventable by providing expecting mothers will better prenatal and post natal care as well as proper nutrition for infants and mothers.

The main causes of disability in children are:

• Communicable disease
• Infection in early childhood
• Early motherhood
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Insufficient or inaccessible health care services
• Inadequate sanitation
• Inter-family marriages

Source: http://www.childlineindia.org.in/children-with-disabilities.htm

Spiritual Implication:

What is discouraging is that the insignificance shown by the government is also seen in the Church. The Church in India for the most part is absent in reaching the children with Special Needs. In fact in our research and study we hardly found an organized ministry/program solely focused on these children among the main line churches. However it is encouraging to note that there are few Para-church organizations and some families who have special needs children and have begun orphanages and homes to better care for these children.

When we conducted the first Special Needs Camp in February 2009, this was seen as an Oasis by the parents and our mobilizing churches. Many have testified how impactful the week of camp was. Two most important items that stood out for the parents and our local LCMI mobilizers are:

• Firstly, reaching the parents and children with Special Needs with the gospel.
• Secondly, the education/awareness of disabilities and training the parents/guardians how to face them and care for them.

As a ministry the Lord has burdened LCMI to:

• Prayerfully conduct two camps in a year (February: camp for the mentally challenged and in September: camp for the physically challenged).
• Lord willing, establish a Group home where we would welcome children with mental and physical disabilities and give them an opportunity to grow in a Christian environment. A core aspect of being a house member would be to help them experience;
   - Inclusion in spite of disability.
   - Give opportunity to attain education.
   - Give them opportunities to learn and develop life skills where possible.
   - Improve their life as they live.
   - Prepare them for adulthood and more importantly prepare them for eternity.
• Prayerfully seek sponsorship for children/teens with Special Needs: The idea here is to promote our campers and group home children for monthly sponsorship. This will help in education/food/and other expenses…

Sponsor a child today and change a life forever.

Donation Options

• $50 for 1 child
• $100 for 2 children
• $150 for 3 children

Sponsor A Child Fund

1 Child - $50.00 2 Children - $100.00 3 Children - $150.00 4 Children - $200.00 5 Children - $250.00

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