Bakery that makes a difference

Parents want the best for their children. And for children with special needs the parent-child bond is so deep, it transcends words. From watching them take their first steps to nurturing them into adults, these mothers and fathers know all about the hardships and rewards. However, society being ignorant and insensitive to the child’s creative growth makes their jobs much more difficult.

The feeling of abandonment pushes many adults with special needs to move away from their homes. Parents also find it difficult to channelise the energies of such adults productively. But with initiatives like Sai Bakery, started by Sumithra Prasad, a social activist, we can see a remarkable transition in their lives as they try their hand at baking!

“Sai Bakery was set up by me and my son, who after finishing high school, wanted to start a bakery with a couple of his friends. After acquiring basic training, this bakery came into existence on September 9, 2013,” starts Sumithra. In the past three years, she has had overwhelming responses from corporate companies and colleges placing orders with them. “I get calls from around the world, seeking advice and helping in setting up an enterprise like this,” she adds.

Although she enjoys the achievements of this endeavour, Sumithra still feels that there is one important problem to address. “Society has a sceptical view when it comes to the cognitive growth of such adults. The general outlook of parents has to change radically. I’ve met parents who would often make insensitive statements discouraging their own child. They need to understand that their kids want a place to belong.” She feels that this is the biggest challenge when it comes to running the bakery as well.

Sumithra is also a social rights activist. She conducts various programmes and camps across the country.

Sai Bakery offers 26 varieties of cookies, whole wheat breads, and other pastry products. sumithra adds, “We would also like to indulge our customers with yummy ice creams and blondies. We are the first and only bakery to be entirely vegetarian. We avoid butter and only produce eggless cakes that has drawn several regular customers.”

Sumithra feels that there is a significant change in the behaviour of the individuals who visit the bakery every day. “A lot of parents are unaware of what such initiatives can do to help their children,” she says on a concluding note.