Hoshiarpur (Punjab), May 15 - Students of Ambuja Manovikas Kendra (AMK), the only educational institute for special children in Punjab's Ropar district and an initiative of Ambuja Foundation - the CSR arm of leading cement manufacturer Ambuja Cements Ltd - have clinched the 'Overall Championship Trophy' at the 'UMANG 2019' for the fourth year in a row.

To further support Ambuja Manovikas Kendra (AMK) students and their families who struggle to make ends meet, AMK has initiated a Child Sponsorship programme, inspiring local organisations and individuals to contribute.

Through the 'Make India Play' initiative, Ambuja Foundation is supporting 10 primary and upper primary schools in Darlaghat to promote sports activities amongst boys and girls, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), who via 'Art of Play', provide the curriculum and Teacher Training for the project.

The parents thought the Team at Ambuja Manovikas Kendra (AMK), had gone bonkers! The Olympics? Most children could barely tie their shoelaces - how on earth would they be able to learn a sport? And attend the Olympics? Forget about it!

In Chandrapur, Maharashtra, lack of training learning materials and poor teaching quality meant that schools were graded 'C or D' level by the District and State Boards of Primary and Secondary Education.

In many regions of India, Open Defecation is still perceived to be an acceptable and harmless practice. Unlike skill development or micro irrigation, sanitation is not seen as an investment which would create revenue.

AMK athletes won 30 medals at the 21st Punjab State Special Olympic Games, and AMK won the Overall Championship Trophy for Best Institute of the State in Sports, for the 13th year in a row.

AMK has won 3 state level awards. Every year, on World Disability Day, Govt of Punjab felicitates notable achievements in the field of disability. This year 10 winners in different categories were announced, of which three were from Ambuja Manovikas Kendra.

Fifteen differently-abled youth are today earning an average of Rs. 1500 per month, thanks to their new vocational skills and home based enterprises. The first batch of 17 students graduated from Ambuja Manovikas Kendra's Skill Development Centre in August 2018 -- showcasing the potential for differently-abled youth to learn and earn.

AMK students have once again challenged perceptions of what the differently-abled can and cannot do, with 4 students passing their NIOS exams with more than 60% marks.

AMK students have consistently managed to defy social taboos and stereotypes associated with intellectual disability. And they've done it again!

Shamsher Singh (24), a student from Ambuja Manovikas Kendra in Punjab, bagged two medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games hosted in Austria in March 2017 - proudly bringing home a Silver and Bronze in Snowshoeing (100 m race and 50 m race respectively) for his performance.