Through these activities, students develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, focus, creativity, the ability to follow instructions, and essential vocational and work-readiness skills. Every step in the process encourages responsibility, teamwork, and a sense of achievement.

Recently, our students showcased and sold these products at an event organised by Hindu Mahila Samajam. Alongside the home care products, the stall also featured locally sourced vegetables, giving students the opportunity to interact with the community and experience the pride of sharing the fruits of their hard work.

The post Learning by Doing: Building Skills Through Vocational Training appeared first on The SEED.

Just as a mother plays an essential role in a child’s life, so does a good teacher. But sometimes, that teacher-student relationship grows deeper and stronger than even a mother’s love. This is the story of such a rare and beautiful bond between my daughter and Thankamani Teacher.

My daughter is intelectualy chalenged from birth. When she turned five, I enroled her in a special school so that she could receive the extra care and attention she needed. It was on that very day that Thankamani Teacher entered our lives. The relationship that began on that first day continues with the same sincerity even after thirty years. My daughter studied for many years in the school where Teacher taught, and she remained a constant presence in her life until her retirement. Even after retiring, without letting go of her love and dedication toward her students, Thankamani Teacher started a new school caled “The SEED.”

We became a part of this new journey as wel. I transferred my daughter from another school and admitted her to Teacher’s institution. For my daughter, Teacher is not just an educator – she is her life. The bond she shares with Teacher is deeper than the love I give her. As a mother, I can confidently say that my daughter feels even more safety and affection in Teacher’s care than in my own arms. As part of this loving relationship, Thankamani Teacher also gave me a job at her school. Today, I am a coleague there. But it is not just a workplace – it is a family. The love Teacher shows me feels like that of a sister or a mother.

The blessing that my family and my daughter have received is beyond words. Thankamani Teacher is a remarkable person who proves how deeply a teacher’s love and care can transform a life. My life today, my sense of stability, and my daughter’s happiness and security – all of these are the result of this great teacher’s love and support.

My gratitude and affection for Thankamani Teacher are immeasurable.

The post A Teacher’s Bond Greater Than a Mother’s Love – A Mother’s Gratitude to Thankamani Teacher appeared first on The SEED.

I am Sri Venugopalan, a dance and music teacher. My life does not belong to me alone – it belongs to the children I have taught and continue to teach.

In 1980, I stepped into the world of music and dance education. After completing my studies at Swathi Thirunal Music Colege, many paths lay open before me. But I chose a different one – a life of teaching alongside children with special abilities. For the past 24 years, I have been living and working with these children. Teaching them dance and music is not just a job; it is the very meaning of my life.

My goal is to discover the artistic talents hidden within them, nurture those talents, and build their self-confidence. In the beginning, many people viewed these children’s abilities with doubt. But what I saw in them was not their limitations – it was their potential. That is why I trained them and brought them onto stages. Today, they have participated in many competitions and achieved success. One of the proudest moments of my life was when my students performed at the Republic Day event in New Delhi and won second place. Now, I continue this journey with the institution “The Seed.” Here, I am not just a teacher – I am a companion, a guide, and sometimes even a family member to these children.

It is my love for these children and my belief in their abilities that has kept me on this path al these years. When I see them move forward, when I see confidence shining in their eyes, I realize that my life is on the right path. I cannot measure how much I have been able to contribute to their lives. But one thing I can say with certainty – they have made me a better human being.

In the days to come, my goal remains the same: to discover their talents and help them move forward. To be with them – that is my greatest joy.

The post My Life and My Children – A Teacher’s Note appeared first on The SEED.

My journey in education began in 1982. For the first eight years, I served as a teacher in a general school, but I always felt there was a deeper purpose waiting for me. I believe it was a divine calling that, in 1990, redirected my path toward the world of special education. As I began working with “specially-abled” children, my heart was deeply moved – not just by the challenges the children faced, but by the silent struggles and immense hardships of their parents. It was then that I made a firm resolve: I wanted to do something meaningful for these families. I chose to dedicate my life to the special education sector.

Beyond Teaching: A Lifelong Bond
It has now been 36 years since I began this work, and I can truly say that I haven’t been able to stay away from these children for even a single day. To be a special educator is to look beyond the surface. It requires us to deeply understand a child’s unique abilities and limitations. My mission has always been to provide tailored training – blending love, academic support, and vocational skils – to bring these children into the mainstream of society. We don’t just teach them; we empower them to live with dignity.

The Joy of Independence: A Success Story
Throughout my career, I have seen many of my students grow to look after their own needs= without depending on others. One success story that remains closest to my heart is my very first student, Mudassir. Today, Mudassir is a respected Office Attender at the Social Justice Office. More importantly, he is the sole breadwinner for his family, providing for his mother and siblings. Seeing my students stand on their own feet is the greatest reward I could ever receive.

The SEED: A Legacy of Care
Even after my retirement, my heart remained with these children. Driven by the desire to continue this mission, and with the support and love of those around me, I founded The SEED Special School two years ago.

My vision for this institution is for it to remain a permanent sanctuary – an Aathura Alayam (house of healing) – for specially-abled children and a pillar of support for the parents who care for them.

The post My 36-Year Calling: From the Classroom to a Mission of Hope appeared first on The SEED.

Late seventies San Francisco South Bay was still a farmland, popularly known as the Orchard. Apples and pears, oranges and lemons, cherries and apricots, tomatoes and zucchinis. And detached homes. That’s when we bought our first home. For $168,000! Soon after, ‘the orchard’ started reinventing itself as “The Silicone Valey”. By the time we were ready to upgrade our house, the $168,000 fetched us $460,000! Along with the purchase of our second house for $610,000, my wife Sally donated $73,000 to her alma mater against my wishes to buy a better house for $710,000.

That’s how I learned the ‘duty’ of giving. That any ‘windfall’ is a divine gift and every gift has a duty to share with not-so-lucky brethren. That sharing has a beauty too, a sense of fulfilment. At 92, my bank account is empty, but my life is full and happy and content.

The post The ‘Duty’ of Giving appeared first on The SEED.