by Sahajpreet Kaur Parmar
Sahajpreet was a summer intern with APAAR in June 2026 for 60 hours spanning three weeks. She has composed the picture collage as well.
Some places become a part of our lives long before we even realize it. In my case, APAAR has been one of those places. As the sister of Gurmanpreet Singh, an autistic individual who has been a client of APAAR for so many years,I have witnessed firsthand the support, care, and sense of belongingness and connection it has provided to countless families, including my own. So, when I had the opportunity to be a Summer Intern at an NGO for my College’s “Community Engagement Project”, it felt natural to choose APAAR out of all places, as it felt less like entering a new environment and more like coming full circle and giving back the love it has provided my family for all these years.
During my time as a Summer Intern, I had the opportunity to witness the organization’s work from a completely different and new perspective. Even though I got to see my brother’s second life away from us, what stood out to me the most was not just the structured activities and Occupational Therapy for certain clients, but the immense patience, empathy and dedication that went into smallest of their interactions. For me, every single day was a moment of learning, whether it was observing each clients’ unique personalities and their preferences or seeing how an NGO actually functions. Seeing the staff work tirelessly to create a nurturing environment and working alongside them inspired me a lot. APAAR goes an extra step in fostering inclusion; by providing them with vocational opportunities like paper bag making and wall hangings beadwork and selling them to actual customers so they can earn a living with their own efforts.
Every Saturday, APAAR would organize various kinds of outings to parks and other places for the clients so they had opportunities to relax, explore, and simply enjoy themselves in the ways that suited their interest and personalities. The organization also regularly invited people from different fields, such as music teachers and other professionals to engage with them through creative and recreational activities. These experiences reminded me how inclusion is not only support and rehabilitation but, also ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to experience joy, express themselves and participate in the world around them.
What made these experiences even more remarkable was the dedication and persistence behind them. Despite having to reluctantly relocate and now operating from Dr. Navneet Bhullar’s (APAAR Founder) own home, the NGO continued to provide unwavering support to individuals with autism and PIDD, which is incredible and commendable considering how the toll such a transition in workplace has probably taken. Throughout my internship, I witnessed firsthand how a small and deeply committed team worked tirelessly to ensure that every individual received the attention, care, and opportunities they deserved. What touched me the most was hearing the staff themselves speak about how deeply attached they had grown to the individuals they support. Over the years, care had ceased to be just a responsibility; it had become something that came naturally, born out of genuine affection and understanding.
However, one challenge I noticed was the shortage of staff. With only two people managing daily activities, the absence of even one could disrupt routines for both the team and the clients. An initiative as meaningful and demanding as this deserves far more hands and hearts than just three people can provide. One thing my time at APAAR taught me was that a meaningful change doesn’t require extraordinary expertise every time, it often starts with simply being showing up and being there for them. Whether it is spending time with the individuals or assisting the clients in various activities, or altogether bringing new ideas and experiences to the community, every helping hand matters. I can’t help but remember the days I spent helping Varun with subtraction, a concept his mother had shared he was struggling with. We worked through it patiently, celebrating even the smallest signs of progress. To my delight, within a few days, he began solving the problems confidently on his own. Witnessing that growth filled me with immense happiness and gave me a profound sense of fulfilment. Having been only the fourth or fifth intern in the NGO’s twelve-year journey, I came to realize how much greater can be achieved with more participation. For students seeking meaningful experiences, professionals wishing to give back to any community, or anyone with a willingness to contribute what they have in their hands, APAAR offers not only an opportunity to serve, but also to learn, connect and to be a part of something really special. More volunteers and people here would mean more smiles, more opportunities, and an even better quality of life for the clients and their families who call this place home.
My time as an intern here may have been short, but the lessons and relationships I witnessed will stay with me for a way longer time. Seeing compassion persist even in difficult circumstances reminded me that communities are built by people who choose to show up. I hope and wish that more people choose to become part of this journey and help in making difference in the world of those who deserve not merely rehabilitation, but the chance to laugh, explore, express themselves, and experience life to the fullest.