Innovation
Innovative Model
The need to develop an innovative business model to transform lives of vulnerable communities globally where they are supported physically, mentally, socially and financially to live their life with dignity. The idea is to integrate them into ‘mainstream’ society so that they can be productive citizens of the country.
Helplife’s 15years of research in the area of disability has been an eye opener; people with disabilities (PWD) have extraordinary potential that any normal individual would have, but it is the perception of the society that has instilled fear and pity in their lives, including from their immediate family. The stigma and shame are born with every disability, and along with poverty, makes their daily lives unlivable.
Partner Organizations contributing to Innovations and Research in the area of Disability are
Bajaj
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Empowering the differently abed to achieve their complete potential, to integrate into the fabric of the community.
TATA
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The processing and development of innovative rehabilitative technology for maximization,full inclusion and integration into society. Research on employment, independent living, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities.
ICMR
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In 2010-2012,the Indian Council of Medical research (ICMR) approved a project entitled, “Understanding the needs of Differently Abled Adolescents and Young Adults with a focus on addressing stigma and discrimination in Rural and Urban areas in Maharashtra, India”.
Programmes
Integrated Comprehensive Minimum Package (ICMP), tested on over 900+ PwDs including men and women from the poor rural communities of Maharashtra and 16 other states of India.
The current innovative sustainable business model is human/women-centric, where the vulnerable communities, e.g., girls and women with disabilities,widows,women and girls living with domestic violence are given priority in the enrollment process at Helplife. The ICMP business model is implemented through the transformational approach used at Helplife.
Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE)
Comprehensive sexuality education is a rights-based and gender-transformative approach, whether in school or outside of school.
The Research and Innovative program of Life Skills is integrated into Comprehensive sexual education (CSE) as part of holistic development package ICMP at Helplife.
Other components of the package are awareness generation (enabling environment),vocational training (livelihood), mental health (self-care &Wellness), physical health (medical treatments).
Helplife focuses on the reproductive health of girls with disabilities Breaking the cultural barriers and encouraging them to take ownership of their own bodies through self care and wellness program.
Culturally AppropriateTechnologies (CAT)
Improving reproductive health of girls with disability is the core with in the innovation of culturally appropriate technology (CAT).
Helplife is working actively in developing culturally appropriate technologies (CAT) for use in rural sector development in the area of life skills, adult education, reproductive health of adolescent, and maternal and child health.
Appropriate technologies, are culturally sensitive and contribute to sustainable development goals, extending benefits to communities,through being scientific, cost effective and aligned with local needs of the communities.
Our methods make use of locally available materials and resources along with tools and processes that are operationalized and monitored by local communities.
Empower, Perform and Transform
It is women-centric, but inclusive of men as well,where men are trained to be supportive of women’s needs, respect the community cultural values along with the ancient wisdom of India where women play a key-role in creating an enabling environment.
Empower
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A holistic approach through capacity building and creating “can-do” communities through life-skills education, coaching,vocational training, exploring possibilities for higher education and opportunities for personality development, adult education, character building and positive thinking are all part of the process.
Perform
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Learning by doing, working on personal action plans, and self-help programs to support individuals and communities to achieve their targeted change and favorable outcomes are all part of “perform”. Developing a personality, financial acumen, public speaking skills and on-the-job skills that include taking care of administrative work at Helplife, data entry, conducting qualitative interviews and learning how to use computers is a must, as most of the beneficiaries work from home.
Transform
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Transforming communities through a holistic package of interventions and self-discovery leads to “transform”. Life is “transformed” when Helplife’s beneficiaries are ready to face the world, e.g., through financial independence, good self-esteem, being able to voice their rights, uphold their values, being persistent, becoming a role model and inspiration for other differently abled girls/boys, men/women.
Innovations
Some of our innovations include the Helplife Birth Cushion, Helplife Partogram and the Helplife Safe Delivery Kit.
Since their inception a number of prototypes of Helplife Birth Cushion, Partograph and Kits have been developed and tested in various settings for safe deliveries.
Helplife program on Menstrual Health in 2015-2016, a project sponsored and mentored by Social Venture Partners (SVP) and supported by Gits Food Products Pvt Ltd. Entitled, “A Happier Menses: Sanitary Napkins Manufacturing Unit”.
The objective of the project was the provision of low cost, bio-degradable sanitary pads to the community.
The project aimed to provide a livelihood to underprivileged women,through being employed to make low-cost sanitary pads. The production unit was set up to enable them to produce these bio-degradable sanitary napkins in a sustainable manner.
