Meenangadi: For Bishar and Appus, the thought of climbing a hill was something they had never dared to imagine. Each with around 90 percent disability, their world was confined to the walls of their homes. The idea of trekking up a rugged hill, towering more than 2,500 meters above sea level at Krishnagiri, near Meenangadi, was far beyond their wildest dreams.

But last Saturday, a group of young volunteers turned the impossible into reality. The two children, along with their mothers and thirteen others with similar mental and physical disabilities, accomplished what they had never believed possible—they climbed the steep Cheengery Hills, a trail challenging even for seasoned trekkers.

Once atop, the children were struck with awe. For them, who had rarely ventured outside their homes, the experience was nothing short of a miracle. Standing on the peak, they gazed at the sea of lush greenery, saw buses crawling below like matchboxes, watched clouds drift past their heads, and felt the wind dance with the fog. It was pure joy.

This extraordinary experience was made possible by the joint efforts of three organisations: Idam Travel Collective, Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Wayanad.

For Idam, the trek was part of their outreach program, while SSK participated because the children are enrolled in its special education program at various Block Resource Centres (BRCs) in the district.

Explaining her experience to Onmanorama, Sirajunnisa, the mother of Bishar, said she never thought her child could climb such a height, especially along such a rocky trail. "At the tougher stretches, the volunteers literally carried him to the top," she said.

Referring to the bliss her son experienced, Sirajunnisa added, "Bishar is still in the grip of that moment. Yesterday, I found him sitting and smiling alone. When I asked why, he said, 'Amma, what we saw from the mountain—my mind is still there. My heart is filled with joy.'"

Recalling the beginning of the climb, she continued, "When I first saw the hill, I was shocked. I stood there, dumbstruck, looking at the rocky giant. Several times, I told my son we could turn back, that we couldn't climb it. But every time he grew tired, the volunteers helped him. They lifted him up and carried his wheelchair whenever the trail became too difficult. Each time I suggested, ‘Let’s go back and try another day,’ he told me, ‘Amma, see, they are all going up. We can also try.’ And so, we did. Even now, it feels like a dream."

For Swapna Shins, the mother of 12-year-old Appus, who has cerebral palsy, the day was nothing short of a miracle. "I will never forget that day in my life. I am deeply grateful to the young volunteers of Idam Travel Collective, and everyone who helped take him to the top and looked after him," she said.

For Idam Travel Collective, this was a completely new experience. "We had never undertaken such a challenging initiative before," said Augustin Pulppalli, secretary of Idam. "We usually take the elderly and orphaned on short trips to give them a break from their routine. But this one was quite different."

He added, "Except for Bishar and Appus, all the others were physically fit. We had to remain vigilant at every step. Our team was dedicated and ready to take any risk to ensure the best possible experience for the children."

"When people come together, even the impossible becomes possible," Augustin said. "I hope this journey inspires parents to take their children on small trips as well. This adventure has surely filled them with courage and joy."