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   The IISE participants are projecting a preparatory school for visually impaired Isabel Torres children, here in Trivandrum. In this (Catalyst from Spain) school, children will learn Braille, Act Three sciences, mobility and living skills in a fun way. They will develop their confidence and creativity through sports, theatre, Three is the number of projects launched music and plastic arts. The team, who is by our first generation of IISE participants, already in touch with an architect, is raring in the context of the third act of our to design a cosy and sensory stimulating journey: “Getting real.” They presented environment for these children. their proposals to the general public and media on Saturday 25th of July, at the UST 2. Information is power. Together we are Global facility in Technopark, Trivandrum. stronger. These are not mere clichéd After calling attention to the needs of the phrases, but indisputable truths. At IISE, visually impaired, our participants the “blindsite team” (spelled s-i-t-e and announced their plans to bring positive not to be mistaken with the documentary change. “blindsight”) has clearly understood this. Their mission is to empower blind and Because the Internet is today's most partially sighted persons to lead powerful tool of communication and independent and confident lives: a most networking, they strive to create an needed undertaking, particularly in India accessible website that will foster a global where low self-esteem has been identified community and deliver comprehensive as a major challenge of the visually information to the visually impaired, in the impaired community. Each project team areas of education, health, technology tackles the problem from a different and finances. angle: 1. education; 2. communication; and 3. technology.

1. Are blind and partially sighted children learning the necessary skills to become successful members of society? The presented field study reveals that these children are lacking in all basic skills. “A girl in fourth grade could not read or write Braille,” comments Yoshimi Horiuchi, our blind participant from Japan. The problem does not only lie in inadequate teaching methods, but also in the deep- rooted belief that a blind person cannot Isabel Torres achieve much. Visually impaired children are often openly denigrated by teachers Karin Broske, from Norway, shares her and parents, which deeply hinders their experience as a blind Internet user: “In self-esteem. “These children would not order to see what is on the screen, I need even dare to ask a question,” explains the help of a screen reader. The problem Yoshimi. I face is that many websites are not fully

1 November 2009 accessible: they display information which blind person worldwide. In alliance with cannot be read by this software.” developers, manufacturers and users, I- Therefore, a priority for their project is to CREATE will test the prototypes before ensure full accessibility of the website production and market release. through any screen reading and magnification software. The event ended with a standing ovation from the audience. “I really enjoyed the Accessibility is not only a technical issue. presentation. It was definitely an eye- Robert Sabwami, a visually impaired ICT opening experience,” comments Mr. Arun trainer from Kenya, explains that Narayanan, UST Global's Chief Operating computer illiteracy and Internet Officer. unavailability are yet other two big challenges, especially in developing UST Global is one of IISE's most valued countries. “Take India for example” says partners. “IISE is an organization Robert, “40% of the population is enabling social change through the computer literate, but when it comes to education and empowerment of social visually impaired persons, the figure goes entrepreneurs around the globe. This down to 0,01% only.” Through their cause is in complete alignment with UST website the team plans to promote ICT Global's mission of 'Transforming Lives'. courses, as well as to lobby for the We are excited to be working with IISE to creation of free Internet points equipped develop leaders who will lead the change with adaptive technology. towards a better society” explains Mr. Krishna Prasad, Global Head-Delivery. 3. Talking of technology, the third presentation had everyone sitting on the Sabriye Tenberken and Paul Kronenberg, edge of their chairs. Through a role-play, co-founders of Braille Without Borders the team gave a powerful demonstration and the IISE: “We concentrate on the of the everyday challenges visually abilities of people, not on their disability. impaired persons face and how assistive Therefore we are confident that these technology can help overcome them. projects will become reality and will Creativity is endless: a smart cane that change the lives of many visually signals overhead obstacles, a machine impaired persons worldwide.” that can recognize money, a device that identifies the right bus, etc. The seed has been planted and the foundation laid for future generations of The team wants to open a centre in IISE participants to take the relay and Trivandrum that will revolutionize the make dreams real. world of adaptive technology: the International Centre for REsearch of Adaptive Technology (I-CREATE). It will be a “think and action tank,” where engineers and visually impaired persons from all over the world will come together to brainstorm. Their mission is to improve existing products, to innovate, and to make adaptive devices affordable to any

2 November 2009 Robert Sabwami At the same time, the group had to get (Participant from Kenya) concrete knowledge of existing websites The IISE Blindsite Project and what they offer. The survey revealed that most sites only focus on one Come to think of it! Why is the majority of dimension in what they offer, hence the the visually impaired people (VIP), need for having a multi-dimensional especially in developing countries, approach where everything could be dismissed as incapable and incompetent? found in a one stop site. Most of them are associated with poverty and above all, they are looked upon as In their research of what information or average performers. services to offer, the team had to pay attention to the interests of the said group. These, among other reasons, are what They later settled for four key areas which prompted the blindsite project team to included: finance, education, technology paint their dream of empowering the and health related issues. visually impaired people with information In terms of finance, the project aims to and all services they could possibly need expose credit facilities to encourage the through the medium of a website. For VIPs into social and business seven weeks, the team intensively worked entrepreneurship. Since most of them are on a needs study to set the stage ready believed to be unemployed and may not for the project. have the possibility of accessing bank loans, the micro-credit concept would be The team comprised of eight members: a stepping stone as a link to investments. Martin, Robert, Lucy, Mohamed, Karin, The objective is to enhance confidence, Eric, Jayne and Pynhoi, and two motivation and entrepreneurial skills catalysts, Isabel and Nora. Together, they among the VIPs. pooled their ideas and skills to initiate the process for an online project that will In the education section, information improve the lives of many visually about integrated schools, learning impaired people. The team endeavoured materials for the blind, vocational training to foster a global online community and centres and scholarships for the visually an international hub of information for the impaired people will be provided. visually impaired. The technology section will offer cutting To set the ball rolling, the team had to do edge news on the latest software and a needs study in order to understand the assistive devices. magnitude of the predicament that surrounded the VIP community in terms of As to health, The project aims to provide knowledge acquisition. This would help information on treatment of eye diseases, them understand the best way to tackle prevention of blindness, optical devices, the issues at hand. etc. Discussion forums of health related The team prepared two questionnaires topics will also be hosted. targeted at both individuals and organizations dealing with the VIPs. This More often than not, limitations in terms of study was based on field work and online accessibility of websites hamper the surveys. research and Internet browsing of

3 November 2009 information for the VIPs. In other words, Overall, the long awaited all inclusive insufficiency of information characterizes website is in the pipeline. Besides getting their surfing. Therefore, the team had to information and services, beneficiaries ensure that their website met all the and the wider users of the site wil be requirements when it came to the exposed to a range of more informative accessibility of its web pages to provide websites which will be linked in this optimum results to its target group. This of initiative. course should be the backbone of any website that endeavours to serve the VIPs.

Kyila (Participant from Tibet) Preparatory School

Act Three of the IISE's five step package was hands-on. The participants were given the mission to start up the next three BWB projects.

Three teams were assigned and each was given a different scope.

Robert Sabwami The three projects were: 1. Research on the needs of a Among other challenges, the team had to preparatory school for blind and partially give critical thought to other issues such sighted children; as language barrier, computer illiteracy 2. Research on the need of a center for among the VIPs, Internet inaccessibility in innovative technology mainly aimed at most developing countries and, last but visually impaired people in developing not least, budget. The good news is that countries; all the mentioned challenges were 3. Research on the needs of a web portal assessed and action plans were detailed for the blind that contains a database, an to overcome them. information pool and a micro-finance program designed for people with visual To spice up their project, the team will slot impairment. in the features of mentorship programs, chart rooms, contests, discussion forums, The participants were allowed to pick a and blogs. This will provide a stage of team according to their interests. My interaction for both users of the site and choice was the preparatory school service providers. On the same platform, because it is somewhat related to my own users may contribute by posting articles vision of starting a kindergarten for the and other pertinent materials that are blind children in Tibet. There were five of deemed necessary for the target group’s us working on the preparatory school, consumption. plus two catalysts. Our first meeting was geared to discuss the responsibilities to

4 November 2009 be alloted to each of us. private space for the interviews to be Our need study was undertaken in held. As it is understandable, some of the Trivandrum city (Kerala) and in the students were unwilling to answer certain Kanyakumari District (Tamil Nadu), the questions in the presence of their two states in South India. We started by teachers. brainstorming all the questions we would like answered from different target groups. We then visited a few integrated schools and organizations such as the Kerala federation for the blind (KFB). Our main challenge was the language barrier, even though we had an interpreter with us.

After a two week study, it was very clear that there was a need for a preparatory school for the visually impaired children in Kerala. During our interviews with visually Kyila impaired students, sighted teachers and students, resource teachers and parents, After this thorough needs study, we wrote we found out that the visually impaired a project proposal and a financial budget students are facing quite a lot of for the creation of a preparatory school challenges. Some of these are: where VIP students will learn all the skills they require to integrate successfully in • Some of the visually impaired mainstream schools. students do not have enough preparation in maths, reading, The participants of IISE will hand over writing, and braille; their act three proposals to the next batch, • The visually impaired students so that they may move on with the cannot read or write as fast as the implementation of these projects. sighted students and some of the teachers dictate too fast for them to catch up. Khom Sharma These are only two of many such (Participant from Nepal) unremedied lapses in the general Devise Wants To Develop preparatory school system. Devices Visiting the schools and the organizations Thanks to the to rapid development of was very interesting. The team really science and technology, the world now enjoyed traveling around to interview seems reduced to the size of a modest students, teachers, and others. village. Anything is possible now, even Nonetheless, our task was made quite that which we could not begin to fathom a difficult by the language barrier. couple of years ago. For instance, today there are many It was sometimes necessary to have

5 November 2009 assistive technologies available to better stakeholders and visited some the life of the visually impaired. manufacturers. Ultimately, we came up Unfortunately, most such devices are very with the following ideal: ICREATE will be expensive. So ostentatious in fact, that located in the northern part of Trivandrum. virtually nobody from developing The center will invite international countries can afford them. A very inventors, factory owners, and producers incongruent fact when we come to think of aids for the disabled, programmers and that the majority of blind and visually beneficiaries needing a certain device. All impaired people live in developing these interest groups will come together countries, and are smitten by serious to create innovative technology that is problems of poverty and unemployment. both affordable for blind and partially sighted people in developing countries So we, a group of seven participants from and of high quality. the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs (IISE), have merged our strengths to create the DEVISE group. DEVISE stands for “DEvelopment of Visually Impaired Systems”.     

Recently, we discussed and came up with Pynhoi Tang the Concept of Icreate. ICREATE simply (Participant from India) means “International Research Center for Preparation For Act Four Assistive Technology.” This will be the first center of its kind in the world. There, When I imagined my internship, I always scientist, developers, designers, thought about what kind of NGO I would manufacturers and consumers will come be working in, what the place and the together and think, design, develop and people would be like, how I would catch test accessible and affordable devices for the train to Ahmedabad and how I would the blind and visually impaired. know when to get off the train.

The question may be raised: how will we When the time came to be prepared by produce affordable technology? our catalysts for the projects we would be working on during our two-month Firstly, the project would not be profit internship, everything was in full swing oriented. Secondly, we want to use spare and everyone was excited about taking parts and locally available raw materials. full responsibility as a future entrepreneur. We want basic assistive technology to be available at either no cost or low cost. For our preparation classes, volunteers, catalysts, and participants met in the little In the third act of IISE course we were IISE hut called Nabulai. Here we shared assigned to think up one relevant and our ideas. We discussed what we possible project for Braille Without expected to experience and how we could Borders to implement in India. Our group make the most of it. We discussed how decided to work on this issue. beautiful the world is, how one can travel from place to place, and how great it is to We conducted research, interviews with know and see the different lifestyles and

6 November 2009 cultures of each particular place. We arrived? Should we show respect by discussed the ways in which our various calling people Madam or Sir or should we host NGOs throughout India would run call them by their names? We learned their institutions according to their local how we should deal with different customs and regulations. situations of life in this unfamiliar culture. We asked about the local weather, the accommodations, how we could best economize in such expensive places as Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and how we could move around the area freely and confidently as prospective entrepreneurs, despite the fact that we are blind.

I was looking forward to leaving the campus for our internship. The day I left was memorable for me. All my friends had gone already, so when the time came for me to leave, none of the remaining Pynhoi Tang participants came out to say goodbye. I just expected that one or two would come The main goal of the internships is to from the dorm and say bye. Khom and learn from the NGOs and, in turn, to share James were with me because we were all our skills and knowledge with them. For leaving together. But in the last five this reason, before joining our NGOs, the minutes before we left, I saw many heads catalysts gave us a chance to coming toward us to say goodbye. They communicate with out mentor at the NGO were our catalysts, cook, guards, helper, in order to discuss the particular project and the great administrative staff; these we would be working on. This helped us are the people who always give us to brainstorm and prepare in advance for courage and confidence to move forward. our projects. Thanks. A thousand thanks to you all. I Some of the things we prepared for wish it to be the same way for future IISE relative to the various NGOs were: how to participants. My IISE preparation for my use an Indian toilet, how to eat with the internship was very effective and I feel right hand, and, one month before leaving that I was well placed here. Everything is for our internship, we practiced eating fine and I am happy. only vegetables, since we would be in a place where the diet was strictly On the way to Amehdabad, we were vegetarian. We learned how to take care three: James, Khom and myself. We of our belongings on the train. We traveled by sleeper, which is called value contacted our individual NGOs and asked express. We had a good time on the train practical questions: would we need a for two nights and one day. We ordered blanket, what kind of clothing should we food from the train restaurant, like bring, would we need to bring medicines, chicken, paratha, fried rice, and chicken what was the culturally appropriate way to biriyani. In our compartment we had one greet and address people when we family with us. They were helpful and

7 November 2009 friendly. We talked about our internships, Amehdabad it was, to me, like a zoo. You what we would be doing at BPA, and were could see peacocks, monkeys, different very eager to reach there quickly. cows, crows, parrots, donkeys, buffalos, and hear different kinds of bird sounds. As the train rolled from Kerala to The first time I went to the hill top with a Amehdabad, people came in and out of friend from Germany, Alica, the monkeys the train all day and night. One night, a were sitting under the trees and we were women came to our compartment and walking between them. It was fun for me clapped her hands in front of James and that I could see them so near, and we Khom, asking for money. Suddenly she regretted that we didn't carry our cameras stopped and looked at them because with us. We went another time with a there was no response from them at all, camera, but this time five dogs followed although she clapped many times. These us and all the monkeys were scattering two guys were concentrating fully on their and running from one tree to the next own conversation and didn't realize she because the dogs were chasing them. wanted their attention. After a few The monkeys carried their babies and ran minutes, she turned to some other men up the trees. There were birds who cried and asked them for money. They gave and made noises every evening and her some, and she went away. morning outside my window.

Every few minutes, peddlers were coming in and calling out the names of all the goods they had for sale. I couldn't sleep Holiniaina Rakotoarisoa well because of it. During the day I (Participant from Madagascar) enjoyed the green nature and the My Internship In Samarthanam pleasant breeze. But when the train stopped, I could smell different kinds of I was very, very impressed by smells. Sometime it smelled like shit, Samarthanam. The organisation performs which I don’t like. I could see the plastic at an immense scale yet everything is bags and bottles and trash lying on the extremely meticulously managed. ground beside the train. I wished that Samarthanam believes in the concept of something would be done in the future integrated education and development for about all this litter in my country. the disabled students. The students attend regular schools (Samarthanam Throughout our trip the land was planted engages special teachers to augment the with green trees. At 5.00 in the morning students' training through specialised when the train was entering the methods); they are trained in regular Maharashtra/Goa States, I saw the vocations (which has produced a list of landscape; the mountains were high and highly qualified alumni, including a the trees were green and a gentle air was visually-impaired Chartered Accountant); blowing, which immediately reminded me and are taught to be independent of my lovely home state, Shillong. When I (mobility is greatly emphasised as a part arrived in Amehdabad, I felt that l was of their training). very far from the lovely campus of IISE and far from the IISE family. When I visited one of the villages in

8 November 2009 leadership, the departments, the projects, the fund raising strategies and the different activities that feed in the NGO.

My friend and I were assigned to work in the Tech Vision, one of the departments in Samarthanam. That branch offers four different training courses: adaptive computer; English, spoken and written; Yoshimi and Holiniaina personal enrichment and communication; and digital library. To reach out its target Another amazing aspect of group throughout India, the Tech Vision Samarthanam's package is the use of department wants to provide online technology for the benefit of the students. training opportunities by uploading these Apart from JAWS (computer reading existing services. Our main task was to software) and audio recordings of text look for funding for that project. We books, volunteers who are out of town decided to write a project proposal and use Skype to talk to the students and get look for potential donors to support our the jobs done. This may seem a trivial ideal. We went through different steps to matter, but when you think of it, the fact achieve our objectives. We interviewed that Samarthanam is mustering the latest the Tech Vision staff and the director of technology to work around simple Samarthanam and some students to availability issues shows its commitment understand the importance of this online and smartness of approach. In addition, project. Thenceforward, we wrote the the organisation runs a mid-day meal project proposal and the financial plan. programme that caters to 35,000 students During this process, we interacted with in and around Bangalore! I was blown the key people in Samarthanam so that away by the figure - that is NOT an easy they may offer suggestions and task to undertake. comments on our work. We faced many challenges in I can go on and on about Samarthanam, accomplishing our task (such as the but to truly appreciate its effect on the language barrier, misunderstandings, visually impaired you must experience it misconceptions, time constraints, etc). first hand. You must go there. Nonetheless, we tried to overcome these obstacles by relying upon our I will tell you that I learned a lot from this communication skills and our past organisation. I gained a lot of experience experiences. In the end, we triumphantly and knowledge during my two month wrapped up the assignment. The internship period. Working with this solidarity and collaboration inherent within organisation honed the skills I acquired our team and our relationship with from the International Institute for Social Samarthanam allowed everyone to Entrepreneurs (IISE). Its practical aspect plentifully reap the fruits of positive labour: demonstrated a way for me to implement “coming together is a beginning, keeping my own dream project. My interaction and together is a progress, and working exchange with the staff in Samarthanam together is a success”. made me understand the structure, the For you who read this article, remember

9 November 2009 that your motivation, your commitment people for our need study. During our and your determination to improve social field trip, I observed that most of the mindsets are your most powerful tools in visually impaired persons in Kanyakumari effectuating your visions. If you can district lacked self-confidence. A lot of change the mechanisms of society, you them cannot make ends meet and are can change the world. uneducated. They also lack the motivation to form an association to address their plight and to fight for a common goal.

Julius Braimah During our field visit, I met a blind man, (Participant from Ghana) Kumar. He was shattering stones. He The Plight Of Visually Impaired sells the pieces to support his family. Persons In Kanyakumari Also, I met two blind persons aged 48 and 52. These two siblings have stayed in the house and done nothing for the past 40 My two months internship program at years of their life. They have no Cadre/India in Kanyakumari was a very education, no job, and are not married. useful exercise. It provided me with an Their only enjoyment in life is to wolf opportunity to put into practice all the down their three meals a day. skills and knowledge I acquired at the Furthermore, I came across another blind IISE. man who had multiple disabilities. He was blind, mentally challenged and epileptic. Among the significant aspects of my stay His situation was so sad that his mother in Kanyakumari stands a number of was always crying, looking for a solution meetings with Mr. Mohan Kumar, who for her poor blind son. The man died one shared with us his working experience on week after our visit. how to physically implement a project. He briefed us on the challenges and thrills of On the third week of our field trip, I such a venture, and on the steps of its interviewed a woman who had given birth realization. to two blind children aged 12 and 15. These children could not attend school There, I came in contact with the beauty because their father had divorced their of Indian culture, especially through the mother and married another woman. His medium of the celebration of the Onam reasoning had been that he could not festival with all the Cadre staff members. bear these two blind children his Nevertheless, the most important part of immediate family. Then I asked the my internship was the opportunity it gave mother: “is there any governmental me to study and observe the living institution in the Kanyakumari district conditions of visually impaired persons in which could force this man to be the region. financially responsible for these two children”? She answered no. These two months instilled me with an intense sense of compassion for the We identified three visually impaired plight of the visually impaired persons persons to be interviewed for the position living in the Kanyakumari district. We of public relation officer for Cadre/India. interviewed 50 blind and partially sighted Only one of them showed up for the

10 November 2009 interview. After the interview, our director of my internship's location. Johnson, a 30- asked this man to acquire some basic year-old Liberian, and I went together to English skills from us before he can start the wide tea plantations and beautiful his job. The gentleman never showed up mountains of Tamil Nadu. We had the for the English classes. chance to spend our two-month internship in the Centre for Tribal and Rural A few of the visually impaired persons Development (CTRD-Trust) in the north of interviewed were engaged in small scale Tamil Nadu. CTRD is an organization that business: selling ice cream, cow milk, hot was founded in 1988 by a former tea- tea, and raising animals like sheep, goat plantation labourer. The main focus of the and cows... There were others who organization is to improve the economical owned small shops and sold some few and living conditions of the tribal provisions. communities, the Sanskrit Adivasis.

Most of the VIPs in India, especially in the The Adivasis are one of the most Kanyakumari district, need social and disadvantaged and underprivileged financial empowerment. They need groups in India. In the range of societal training to help them to know their rights perception they are the lowest cast. They and responsibilities. They need support are marginalized and discriminated so that they may apply for scholarship or against in all sections of social life. sponsorship to continue their education or Children of Adivasis who dare to attend set up their own small-scale businesses. school are oppressed by teachers and classmates. Teachers don’t integrate They should form self-help group to them into the lessons; they don’t pay identify common problems faced and attention to their needs and questions, address these issues in their etc. Indian students bully them because communities. Visually impaired persons of their different dresses and should take part in all public functions appearances. Adults hardly find any jobs such as temple/church meetings, other than occasional seasonal labour on marriage ceremonies and cultural tea and paddy plantations. Landowners programs of their communities. Their exploit their working capacity and pay participation will help the community minimum salaries that are not sufficient to become aware of them and understand defray their basic living expenses. them better. Mr. Ranganathan, the founder of CTRD, witnessed the deplorable living conditions of the Adivasis and decided to support Jessica Schroeder them in improving their quality of life. At (Participant from Germany) first, it was quite difficult for him to reach Our Internship In CTRD out to his target group. The Adivasis were very suspicious of and reserved towards Hey everyone, him because of the plurality of bad experiences they had faced. They thought It has been a week since my return to the that the founder of CTRD wanted to take IISE campus. The environment here is advantage of their situation in order to use drastically different from the surrounding the donations he may receive for his own

11 November 2009 purposes. It took quite a while until he in evening-schools so that they are able to was able to establish a good relation to follow the lessons and to get higher the Adivasi population. He had long marks. The list of projects is long and discussions, helped them when they had broad and it would take pages to describe diseases, listened to their needs and them all. sorrows. Due to these interventions he was able to improve his status and was The description of CTRD and its different recognized as a trustworthy man. projects was so exciting and tempting for me that I decided to undertake my internship there. Fortunately the executive director of CTRD was willing and sufficiently open-minded to welcome us. This forward thinking approach is not so common in India, where the attitude towards disabled persons is still rather negative. Many organizations do not see any benefit in employing or training a disabled person. They believe that disabilities represent an additional burden for them. That a disabled person can bring new and progressive ideas into an Jessica Schroeder organization and can develop a new Today the CTRD-trust has a range of sense of humanity is for many NGOs, projects that covers all the essential companies and industries difficult to needs of a human life. CTRD is very well imagine. To counter these negative known in the Nilgiri region and has a great perceptions, and to take advantage of the and solid position among the other local many benefits of employing a person with NGOs. CTRD’s mission is to give tribal disabilities, Mr. Ranganathan was truly and rural communities the right tools and happy to receive us. knowledge to help themselves. The focus is on comprehensive and inclusive health, Since he works with the disadvantaged education and livelihood training to tribal and rural populations of the Nilgiri promote sustainable economic wellbeing, district of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Ranganathan equality and basic human rights for all, encounters first hand the ways in which regardless of gender, age and ability. disabled people suffer. He realizes that Practically, CTRD implements its mission many disabled people have no job, no through offering vaccination-camps school education, and receive insufficient against polio, rabies, etc. and equipping care from their families; that often they the Adivasis with agricultural knowledge are kept in houses like animals and that and tools in order to make them self- families are afraid to present themselves reliant and protect them from exploitation with their disabled children in public. They by landowners and companies. CTRD are scared of the embarrassing questions, has also established self-help groups and the staring eyes, the rigid, frigid ignorance introduced a micro-finance system to and the harsh insults of some members of enable individuals to start their own the community. Parents often don’t know businesses. They are preparing children how to deal with their disabled children.

12 November 2009 Due to this lack of knowledge many of course we had also disabled disabled persons receive hardly any participants who were really keen to training in basic living skills. They are not speak and who brought every lack and able to wash themselves, eat every inequality to the table. We had independently, walk around and orientate great and enriching discussions, which themselves, socialize with community helped us a lot to develop a helpful members, etc. Since the tribal programs project to satisfy their urgent needs. are well established, the CTRD wants to Furthermore, the staff team conducted extend his target group to the disabled interviews with 200 disabled persons. persons of the Nilgiri region. CTRD wants With the help of the results from these to improve the living and working interviews we were able to develop a conditions of disabled people in the clear and thorough project concept. It Nilgiris. They want to bring disabled consists of basic skill training for all kinds people into mainstream society so that of disabled people, of forming self-help they can really participate, benefit from groups among disabled people, and of resources and be accepted as equal and starting a vocational skill training center. valuable members of the community. The center would serve as base from which to send the Nilgiri disabled into the Johnson’s and my task was to help CTRD job market with a fighting chance. in developing ambitious and sustainable projects to improve the living conditions of We did not only develop the concept. One disabled people and create awareness of our very enjoyable tasks was to and tolerance for their needs and rights. sensitize the staff of CTRD to the needs of visually impaired people. We offered We created a questionnaire targeting white cane training. It was quite cute to various areas of life: employment, school, see the staff members ambling participation in the community, daily blindfolded, clutching their canes. One of activities and daily caring, access to the male staff was really talented and assistive devices, etc. Our aim was to get walked fast and nimbly with the cane. We a clearer understanding of the urgent also conducted lessons in coordinating a needs of disabled people. With the help of self-help group and as a supporting aid the CTRD social workers we conducted we wrote a self-help group training two meetings with more than 120 disabled curriculum for the first 20 lessons. people and their family members. In these meetings we discussed the different CTRD was like a big family for me. Right topics of our questionnaire and raised from the beginning I felt really welcome awareness for the capability of disabled and received by open arms and minds. All people and encouraged them to speak up the workers were very open towards new and fight for their rights and needs. It was ideas and they always tried their best to very obvious that many disabled people involve us in their work. I was really are not used to answer questions about impressed by how engaged all of them themselves and that they are often quite were to include us in their conversations. hesitant to talk about their personal views. The language barrier was quite significant Often parents spoke for their disabled as many of the staff can only speak a little grown up children or disabled people and English. But despite that, they really their families asked CTRD for money. But strove to speak to us. It worked well.

13 November 2009 When we visited the family of a blind and prepares is very healthy as he uses so mentally retarded child, and we many different kinds of vegetables and conducted an interview with them, even spices. This was really an adventure for though the staff could only speak a little my taste buds. English we were able to ask questions The combination of all these things made and get very valuable answers. The staff me feel really homely and safe. The always listened patiently, and in turn we atmosphere was friendly and warm and simplified our terminology to some extent. the people were very motivating. I Often the simple things are the clearer encountered many interesting and ones. amazing people who really enriched my mind. I really miss CTRD a lot and I highly Mr. Ranganathan is a very kind-hearted recommend it as an internship placement and sincere man. He is really committed for the next IISE generation. to his job and spends all of his day dedicated to the different projects. He is always full of energy and new visions and dreams. His attitude and charisma Yoshimi Horiuchi inspired me to put all my knowledge and (Participant from Japan) creativity into my work to bring some The Adventure Of Two Blind Mice benefit to CTRD. Although Mr. In Shillong, Meghalaya Ranganathan is very busy most of the time, he always had an open ear and Kyila (my roommate from Tibet) and I did mind for my questions, ideas and needs. our internship in Shillong in the state of He is a great leader and role model, a Meghalaya, which is located in the combination far less frequent than one northeast of India. It is almost on the may expect. opposite side of the country from Kerala. We traveled by train for four days to get The beautiful surroundings made it hard there! Of all the IISE participants, the two for me to leave CTRD. Tea plantations, of us traveled the furthest to reach our silver arc trees and pepper bushes destination. The train trip was sometimes surround CTRD. On the edges of the road quite boring, and sometimes a bit different herbs and grasses grow. My adventurous (there was a drunken man in favorite plant was the lemon-grass. Its our compartment). All in all, I felt blades smelled so fresh and exotic that I privileged to witness another could never get enough of it. I had never representative of the diverse cultures of touched tea bushes in my life. I love to this vast country. drink tea. Now, I finally have touched the In short, I felt as if I had come to a green and different shaped tea leafs. different country. The climate was very CTRD workers collect the leafs and make mild because of the high altitude, and we big piles to transport them to local tea felt cold for the first time in six months. No factories. I liked to put my face in these wonder Shillong is nicknamed "Scotland piles, it feels smooth and it smells green. of the East." The culture there was quite It reminds me of the forest. fascinating. The main population consists of three tribes: Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo. The food in CTRD enriched my taste They have relatively fair skin and round collection. Everything that the cook

14 November 2009 faces. In fact, their complexion and bureaucratic paperwork. I learned how to physiognomy remind me of my Japanese be flexible. For example, I did not have a kindred. They speak their own languages, specific working partner in my library although they go through education project. So in addition to asking teachers mainly in English and Hindi. Food was not and staff, I went to ask the students like that of Kerala at all. No spices like themselves what they needed and how turmeric and cardamom. A lot of rice. they wanted the library to be. Thanks to Some vegetables, fish and meat. A lot of those students who shared their passion beans. for storybooks, I did not lose my overall objective. During the internship, we were hosted by an NGO called the Bethany Society. It is Kyila and I organized an event together, an organization that was established by a the “Cafe in the Dark", which turned out to Spanish nun almost 30 years ago to be one of the most memorable days of support the most vulnerable members of our internship. " We made one of the the society, including people with rooms on campus completely dark, and disabilities, people below poverty line, etc. served tea and snacks inside to sighted We stayed at their hostel, which is guests. The blind and partially sighted attached to an inclusive school, where students worked from dawn till dusk, blind and sighted students learn together. serving and playing live music. After each The hostel also housed children with 20-minute session was over, the deaf different disabilities: blind, deaf, and children rushed in and cleaned up all the physically or intellectually handicapped. It mess and carried fresh tea for the next was amazing to see them living together session. The staff in the girls’ and boys’ under the same roof: a girl with hostel was constantly boiling water for hot intellectual disability taking the hand of a milk tea. Kyila and I were there for the blind girl to show her where a glass of whole day without eating lunch, but I water is, blind and deaf children talking didn't feel tired at all! It was tremendously through sign language and finger exciting and one of the most beautiful alphabets hand in hand... cross-disability sights of strong teamwork I have ever collaboration is often controversial, but seen. The guests were mostly very through my two-month stay in Bethany satisfied and inspired by this totally new Society, I have come to believe in its experience, and filled out our guest book positive impact. with such encouraging words as "I have never enjoyed the beauty of the dark so Within the organization, we had various much before!" tasks. Kyila was in charge of fund raising, and I mainly worked to improve the library in the inclusive school. Needless to say, the work in Bethany was quite different from our IISE assignments. At the IISE, we were taught how to write proposals and financial plans, strategies to face the media, etc. In Shillong we learned that we could put theory into practice, and that we had the power to achieve more than Kyila and Yoshimi

15 November 2009 The event’s purpose was to raise fund for moments that we received from them. the Braille books in the library and to support funding for the blind college Khubulei Shibun baroh (thank you very students in Meghalaya. We certainly much, everyone)! made benefits. Nevertheless, I believe the most powerful impact of the event was to originate a shift in the perception of people with disabilities in Shillong. Martin Niry Another great part of this was that the (Participant from Madagascar) children gained a lot of confidence through the experience. Normally, they Branding are the ones who are to be taken care of. Most of them come from very poor I did my internship with my colleague families and have at least five siblings. Gompo from Tibet, in a company called Many of them do not own even a rupee. RM ESI (RM Education Solution India) in Everything is provided in the hostel: food, Technopark, Trivandrum. That company clothes, soap, etc. In the cafe, however, provides educational software for schools, they were the ones to provide. They were colleges and universities in the UK. serving people and guiding them step-by- step in the pressing darkness. Can you The title of our project was “Proposing imagine how proud we were for all of internal and external branding with the them? After the cafe, all of us had a aim of attracting and retaining the best dance party in that room. We all danced talent for the company”. The extent of together for hours: deaf and blind, girls what I knew about branding before my and boys. internship was limited to the names of Nike, Nokia and Samsung... During the Actually, I could not contribute much in my internship I discovered branding goes library project. We still do not have the much further than that. "Romeo and Juliet" that so many girls would love to read, nor do we have simple There are two kinds of branding: internal devices with which the students can listen and external. The first focuses on existing to audio books. I have learned that library employees and what makes them eager work takes enormous time, energy, and to work for the company, and on how to passion, much more than I had imagined motivate them to stay with the company before. But when I was dancing with deaf and perform at their best. Based on our boys and shouting "Good, good!" with survey of employees at RM ESI, we found sign language, when I saw blind boys and that workplace atmosphere, job security, girls working for hours to guide the guests career development, and attractive like professional waiters and waitresses, salaries were their most important and when I heard that many students motivating factors. were now carrying white canes to go to External branding involves attracting church, I could feel that they had gained talent to work for the company. We much confidence as blind or deaf suggested that broadcasting the strengths individuals. It felt good inside to know that of the company through public events we could leave at least something for may be the best method to attract talent them in exchange of the countless to the company.

16 November 2009 various sources: movies, books... Nevertheless, I think that the best way to learn about other cultures is to meet and talk with people. During my internship in Terumo Penpol Limited I was lucky to meet persons from many different cultural backgrounds. The experience was fun, fascinating, and it broadened my perspectives. Now, I want to share some of my own experiences with you.

Smoked salmon, Hytte and the Martin Niry Norwegian National anthem Terumo Penpol is an Indian and To maintain good atmosphere, RM ESI Japanese company. One day I was invited generates entertainment within the to meet its chairman. I was thrilled by the company. For instance, every Friday at time I reached his office. Inside, my 5:00 pm, the company hosts TGIF Japanese host gave me a warm welcome. meetings (Thanks God It is Friday). They One which almost immediately gave way organize games and everyone has fun. to a lively conversation about our own As one employee said, working at RM ESI countries. He already knew quite a lot is to “have fun at work.” about Norway. He had even tasted one of my country's During my internship at RM ESI, I signature dishes: smoked salmon. Not interacted with many people and realized many other than my country folk know how important the employees are to the what smoked salmon tastes like. company. Without them, nothing happens. Apart from what I learned Suddenly, the chairman asked me: “do about branding, I also learned about the you have a Hytte?” Hytte is the organization of the corporate structure. Norwegian word for a cottage. I told him The knowledge I gained during my two that my family had just bought a Hytte in months at RM ESI will be very useful for the mountains. He proceeded to state: “I my future entrepreneurial projects. HR have heard that all Norwegians have management is the most important factor Hytte in the mountains and that you go in a successful organization. there in the weekends”. I told him that my parents go there every weekend and I explained how the Hytte looked like. We talked for two hours, until I had to leave. I Karin Broske started to get up from my chair when the (Participant from Norway) Norwegian national anthem struck my Cultural Diversity auditory self. The chairman told me that he really liked the anthem and that he wanted to play it to me as a sign of To learn about other cultures is very friendship. I was deeply touched. Here I interesting. One may do so through was in India talking to a person from

17 November 2009 Japan and listening to the Norwegian of small dishes all decorated nicely on a national anthem. I think that whenever I big banana leaf. I had a sadja with some hear that anthem in the future I will always friends. We sat on the floor on blankets remember that meeting and the and ate the food with our hands. The welcoming attitude of the Japanese whole experience was wonderful. In my chairman of Terumo Penpol. opinion, the food tasted better when I ate it with my hands than if I had eaten it with knife and fork. I think I will introduce Indian hospitality family and friends back home to the idea During my internship I resided with an of eating on the floor with our hands. Indian family as a “paying guest”. From the first moment, when I stepped into my Learning by doing host's house, I was struck with the sense of welcome that permeated the place. In I could not have acquired these wonderful my musings about my Indian future, I had cultural experiences through reading a anticipated a lot of problems and was book or watching a movie. Some things apprehensive about my ability to manage. can only be learned through their I was glad that things turned out alright. practice. I had a teacher once who told me that the best way of learning new Every evening after work all of us sat in things was to do them. I think that the dining room, sipping tea and talking. statement especially holds true when it We told each other about our day and comes to learning about different cultures. asked questions about our respective countries. My new family taught me some Malayalam and we all got a good laugh when I tried to pronounce those few words I managed to commit to memory.  
Soon I did not consciously think about the fact that I was a Norwegian in an Indian Robert Sabwami nest. Many of our ideas and view points (Participant from Kenya) where quite similar. People have similar Audience Awareness cores no matter their homeland. Come to think of it, standing on stage in Onam front of an audience to give an impromptu speech on a topic that you have not In Kerala, the locals celebrate Onam prepared is not an easily digestible every year. Onam is a big festival during prospect. The common feelings for most which people decorate their houses with of us are those of stage fright, anxiety, flowers and eat festive food. People and nervousness about our overall spend many days to prepare the flower composure. decorations so that they are ready for the festival. When these fineries are Public speech and presentation is an complete, they deserve to be deemed integral aspect in making a good social professional artwork. entrepreneur. The International Institute During Onam, people eat a special meal for Social Entrepreneurs embraces this called “sadja.” The meal consists of a lot concept by ensuring that everyone

18 November 2009 speaks out with courage and even unusual unrest. I had to bring the boldness, and most importantly, delivers a audience back. I demanded: “OK! Are you well thought through presentation. Body with me?” They unanimously answered: language, stage awareness and voice “Yes!” projection are key elements to be considered whenever one stands up to I trudged on with my speech and tried speak. with all my might to project my voice effectively. It was really difficult for me to It was a normal day when I was chosen to deliver my points. The more I talked, the give a speech on the subject of love and more commotion came from the relationships. This was a surprise to me audience. I decided to go on, raising my for I had not prepared for the voice to ensure that I was audible presentation. So without a doubt, I had to enough. I cared little about the disruptions be spontaneous. for I knew that my time was running out and I had to make my point. I Little did I know the reason for that days concentrated on the structure of my exercise. The idea was to familiarize subject and moved forward with the few ourselves to different types of audience, that were with me. ranging from active listeners to a bluntly disruptive audience. Without hesitating, I Finally, my time was up and I had to wrap took the stage after a warm round of up the presentation. Ironically, the whole applause. of the audience appreciated my presentation as though they had been Just before starting my speech, I noticed paying unfailing attention throughout. I some movements here and there from the really felt flattered for I knew that the audience. Some of them had not settled majority of them had not actually listened down even after I had given my to what I had talked about, and yet they introduction and the subject of my clapped and cheered me off the stage. presentation. Anyway, I had to continue with my speech. To my amazement, one It was time then to listen to more of our directors received a call, which she presentations from other participants who answered right in the midst of the also had their fair share of frustrations. presentation. I found that disturbing. I Sahr Yillia tried all he could to deliver his knew she would have been very angry for points but the flattering cheer and anyone else to have their phones turned overwhelming jubilation confused him on during class sessions. Nonetheless, even more. The climax of the exercise she carried on with her obnoxious came when Mohamed Salia met a very conversation. What got into my nerves the serious audience who refused to show most was the dragging of chairs, not to amusement or any response to his mention the whispering noises from the presentation highlighting the funny audience at large. It was unbelievable moments of his life. how some people moved from their seats, walking around and chatting with each Overall, the exercise allowed us to fully other. appreciate the variety of audiences out there. Furthermore, it gave us insight on By then, I was extremely confused at this how to, as visually impaired people,

19 November 2009 evaluate the number of listeners based on auditory perception.

James P. Johnson (Participant from Liberia) My Dream

“My dream. Fantastic dream. Oh, time James P. Johnson changes and runs fast. Oh! What a beautiful dream! When and where will I The International Institute for Social fulfill this dream? When age is passing by Entrepreneurs, in Kerala, southern India: and everything seems impossible?” The a place where all may interact and mingle discordant sound of guns yowled always freely, sharing love, respect, and learning its dreadful symphony. Hope was about each others' cultures. nowhere to be found. Then I asked myself. “Well! When and where will I I am proud to have become a part of this discover my dreamland?” And suddenly, unique family. A family that has hope pounced onto me again and said, empowered me with tools I had never “You shall discover your dreamland. It's dared to fathom using before. See, I'm just a matter of time.” Like lightning, that now typing on a computer. In addition to fair and faithful moment struck my life. these boons, the IISE is training me with That morning of January 7th, 2009, when skills that will allow me to set up my own family members and well-wishers project. One that will bring positive escorted me to the path that led to my change in the lives of visually impaired dreamland. people in Liberia, my country. I got to the Robert International Airport Visually impaired and sighted people from early. “Where is your passport?” asked an around the globe come to the IISE to immigration officer. “Here it is!” I discover and realize their dreams. It is a exclaimed. My passport and other place of creative thinking and learning, traveling documents were meticulously environmentally and blind friendly. The examined. Then came my time to depart. cheerful sounds of nature loom gently. As we hurriedly moved towards the stairs Oh! What a wonderful place to be! It has of the plane, tears of joy rolled down my exposed me to the beauty of the rest of chin. “Could it really be true that I am now the world. going to a place where I will discover my The academic bloc: dreamland?” “Yes, time has a way of Is where I learn and hone my skills. The remodeling the world abruptly, building contains several classrooms unexpectedly, radically.” The stairs folded where thinkers converge to put the in, the door closed and the plane began products of their creative thinking to slowly taxi and taxi. Suddenly, it took together. Chomolangma, Aconcagua, off away to my dreamland, to India, Mont blanc... The names of some rooms. “God's Country”. To the IISE. And let us not forget the computer lab, the

20 November 2009 sound studio and the library. of internship everywhere in India.

The kitchen and dining hall: On the afternoon of August 3rd, I left Our source of energy comes from the campus with two other participants. We kitchen. A big dining hall where General almost missed the train because, against Assembly meetings are held from Monday all Indian odds, it arrived earlier than we to Friday every week. had expected. Nevertheless, we made it and we took off to Gujarat Vastrapur, The administrative bloc: Ahmedabad, for our internship. For two Where the wonders of charitable months I worked at the Blind People's bureaucracy are born and die. Association (BPA) in Gujarat. There I interacted, learned and shared my own The dormitory bloc: skills with friendly and caring people. This building shelters all 20 participants, future project directors. Two in every What a great experience for me! At the room, stacked neatly. Each one is entitled end of the internship, I returned to the to a bed, a cupboard, a wall fan and a IISE to complete my eleven months of trash bucket. The rooms are all annexed training so as to fulfill my dream that shall by bathrooms with hot and cold water change the lives of blind people in Liberia. systems.

The laundry room is where participants and catalysts' clothes are washed. From the main gate to the “Nabulai” hut Martin Niry and the great lake where we learned to (Participant from Madagascar) swim, coconut trees are seen Serving People everywhere. Oh! what a beautiful and memorable place! A place that I will From my point of view, to serve means to never, ever forget. help people - not only people with disabilities, but everyone who may be in My internship: need of help. Serving and helping others is a task which we should all undertake Act Four was the time of internships. After with love and passion. Acting for the a seven months intensive training at the greater good should not be perceived a institute, the participants were ready to duty or a chore. move out and probe India. I want to tell you that we, the 20 We unfailingly anticipated this wonderful participants at the International Institute day. The atmosphere brimmed and for Social Entrepreneurs (IISE) in India, bustled with purpose. All of us were busy through each of our projects, would like to buying needed items to take along. empower the visually impaired of the Emails insidiously overloaded laptops, world. To fulfill this vision we need to from catalysts to participants. From always be committed to serve individuals participants to catalysts. And so it went... and the wider society determination and Everyone started to leave, two and two, in care. pairs. All headed to various destinations I am writing about serving people,

21 November 2009 because I want to share my feelings things from blind people. Being with them based on my experience of being involved has taught me patience, and to enjoy with blind people for ten years. simple pleasures.

Sometimes it feels as if I actually forget What makes me very happy is to help myself and my needs because I am people with visual impairments to be as happy to be with blind people and enjoy independent as possible in their daily their company. Before I got involved in lives. Their independence is my passion, this field, I did not have any knowledge of because when I or other sighted people blindness or blind people. I do not have are not available, my friends should be any blind family members and I did not able to function independently. I realize live with blind people. When I enrolled for that my dream is to help people to obtain a course to be trained as a teacher of the gift and skill of independence. blind children, my friends and family told me “you need passion and humbleness if you want to work with blind people”.

At that time I was mostly looking for a job  
and a career. When I learned about the course I thought that it was promising. I Sabriye Tenberken would receive training for two years and then get a job immediately thereafter. In (Catalyst from Germany) hindsight, I think it is then I realized that The Fortune of Becoming whatever I do in the future, I want to serve Redundant people. Ladies and Gentlemen! We are about to With time, the desire to serve people land in Lhasa Gonga airport. Please grew. I am now happy if what I do makes fasten your seatbelts and put your seat someone happy. Here in India, I learned into the upright position. the famous phrase “You are happy - I am happy.” I used to scoff at that phrase until After one year amongst coconut trees I understood what it meant: those who Paul and I arrived in our old barren home, mouth these six words indicate that they at an altitude of 3,500 meters, where the want to help others, that such things fulfill air tastes as clean as water from a crystal them. clear mountain spring. But it is just so thin that you have the feeling of not getting Now, I am at the International Institute for enough of it. Social Entrepreneurs (IISE) and partaking As it happens, every time we arrive at this in a great course. In general, participants high altitude, slowly but steadily a slight at IISE are blind or partially sighted. I, pain creeps into our temples. It feels a bit however, am fortunate to have been like a red wine hangover. Nothing to worry accepted as a participant despite my about, since water and aspirin help sight. Although I have no visual immediately. impairment I have the privilege to be with blind people, and share a room with my There is no one at the airport to welcome blind roommate. I have learned many us home. A Norwegian tour group agrees

22 November 2009 to squeeze us into their minibus. On the colleagues. "Gen Paul la, Gen Sabriye long drive towards Lhasa Paul describes la!" "Who is this and who is that?" I ask. the landscape. Some green meadows Names are thrown at me, names I have around the Kyichu River, blue, blue sky, a never heard before. Most of the kids and wide view and of course no palm trees. some of the teachers are new. I don't The perfectly paved streets are wide like know them, but they seem to know autobahns but there is hardly any traffic. everything about us. Lhasa seems a bit empty. Not many tourists despite the fact that it is the peak I am amazed by how beautifully and of the tourist season. independently the school is running. Since Paul and I are busy with the IISE The Norwegians are accommodated in a and fundraising activities, two former blind hotel directly on the Barkhor, the major students of Braille without Borders, pilgrimage road that leads around the Yudon, 23 years old, and Nyima, 22 years famous Jokhang temple. "Can we drive old, are now mainly responsible for you somewhere?" the Tibetan driver asks everything. This was the big goal we had in a friendly way. "Don't worry," we reply, aimed for from the very beginning of the "the school is just a couple of hundred project. One day, we said, the project will meters away." be managed only by local blind former It somehow feels like coming home from a students. Most of the other NGOs told us long long trip; in fact I haven't been to we should be realistic. The minute you Tibet for more than a year. The smells of are gone, they said, the project will fall butter, incense, leather and urine, the apart. But the producer of the movie sounds of temple bells, turning prayer BLINDSIGHT, our friend Sybil who had wheels, cries of "Wu Kuai qian" and visited the project last year, made the "Gormo Nga!" ("Only five yuan!" in following remark: "In my opinion it runs Chinese and Tibetan) make me even better without you!" understand how much I have missed this I think she couldn't have given us a beautiful place. greater compliment; besides, she didn't even exaggerate! Paul and I slowly approach the school, walking with suitcases packed with The two young social leaders Nyima and goodies and equipment through the Yudon are doing a marvelous job. And narrow winding roads. After crossing a what a job: With joy they are working from big dangerous street-- they call it the early morning to late evening on the Lhasa racing track-- we turn into a small following tasks: alleyway and then we stand in front of the big red gate with two pillars plastered with • Further development of the the English and Tibetan Braille alphabet curriculum for the preparatory and a big iron yak bell with a string. school, "Home sweet home!" This is the place • Scheduling classes for seven where we have lived and worked, cried teachers and four levels, and laughed for more than ten years. • Hiring and firing teachers and other staff members, The gate opens and we are surrounded • Preparing the monthly bookkeeping by cheering children and smiling for the Lhasa project,

23 November 2009 • Registering new students, region in the east of the autonomous • Organizing renovation activities on region of Tibet, never attended school project buildings, before he came to Braille Without • Fighting with rude neighbors, Borders. He only studied three years in • Discussing serious problems with the BWB project, where he learned to lawyers, read, write, and speak English, Chinese • Coordinating activities with the farm and Lhasa Tibetan. In 2005 he received a in Shigatse, scholarship to study in a language school • Training workers from other NGOs in in the UK in the hippie town of Totnes, special skills for the blind, and now he has applied for the IISE training in 2010: "I want to make sure that • Showing tourists around, the project is running also when Paul and • Giving speeches to governmental Sabriye are not in Tibet." delegations and ambassadors who visit Tibet, Yudon, a lively young blind woman from • Communicating with Chinese and Metrogonka joined the BWB project in international donors, 1999. After three years of training, she • Engaging in fundraising activities for was one of the first four blind students the Lhasa project, ever to enter a regular school in Tibet. • Marketing farm products (carpets, Together with Gompo, a present IISE cheese and bread) in local hotels participant, and two girls, Nyima Chokpa and restaurants, and Sonam Bungzo, she enrolled in the • Coordinating eye surgery camps third standard of a regular boarding together with international school, in a class with 50 sighted ophthalmologists, students. At first the teachers wanted to • Having long meetings with refuse the four blind students, but we governmental leaders about project convinced them to give it a try six months related matters, and then we would see. To the surprise of • Partly supervising the blind children, the teachers, the blind students soon graduates of the BWB preparatory became best in class in all subjects. school, who are going to regular However, not all teachers were so happy schools by talking to teachers and about this development. The English printing Braille books in English, teacher felt inferior and the headmaster Chinese and Tibetan, requested from us computer equipment • Doing interviews with local and and sanitation work as a payoff for the national media, "extra burden" to keep these blind (and a • Coordinating a team of teachers, little too outspoken!) students. house parents and kitchen staff, • And on top of it all, teaching English, After four years of schooling, Gompo and Tibetan, Chinese and computer Yudon decided to give up. They were skills in the Lhasa preparatory simply bored, scored 90 to 100 % in school. almost every subject, and when I asked them how would they see a perfect Paul and I are just watching from the school, the answer that came was, "In a sidelines and are blown away. Nyima, a perfect school the teacher should know young man from Ganze, a very remote more than the students."

24 November 2009 While Nyima is a real manager and networker (he knows almost everyone in town, and if Paul is looking for a rare device, Nyima finds it immediately), Yudon is more the leader of the training program and additionally she charms all the officials who were thought to be tough. Right now she is here at the vocational training farm with us, training the local teachers in mobility and Braille Mike and Sabriye printing skills. Through the hard work of managers, Paul, Yudon, and I arrived at the farm last trainers, and blind trainees, the place Saturday. It took us four and a half hours looks green and gorgeous. Flowers, trees to drive 230 kilometers. Compared to and green meadows wherever you look! A Kerala, it was actually a quite fast trip but little oasis on the barren high Tibetan it was also very strenuous for Paul, not so plateau. It is slowly becoming a tourist much because of heavy traffic but attraction, and even governmental because of two dangerous valleys where officials love to come by to picnic and the mountains rise 2,000 meters high on party. both sides. At the moment it is rainy season and there are plenty of landslides The farm functions as a vocational and lots of rocks that fall on the road. So training center for blind and partially driving is very spectacular but also rather sighted adolescents and adults in the dangerous. The biggest problem is to find following areas: a place to pee. There are no trees to hide behind -- just yellow-brown sand, • Organic kitchen gardening, turquoise rivers and, if it is not raining, • Composting, bright blue skies. • Animal husbandry (we have horses, cows, pigs and chickens), The training farm in Shigatse is a project • Production of cheese, bread, carpets we started five years ago and is now run and other handicrafts. by a strong local Tibetan woman and by a former housefather of the preparatory Recently we have also set up a music school in Lhasa. Eventually we hope that center that is run by a former blind it can be run partly by blind people as student of ours, a highly talented well. Back in 2004 we received the 40 professional Dramnyiae player (a acres property from a local NGO with a Dramnyiae is a Tibetan guitar). Besides fifteen-year contract. Most of the property trainees the farm also hosts a number of had never been cultivated before and former blind children of ours who most of the buildings were rundown army integrated themselves into the barracks. neighboring elementary school. Instead of staying in the boarding facilities of the elementary school they live at the farm and bring a lot of liveliness to the place. In

25 November 2009 the evenings, singing, dancing and who were telling us to stop dreaming, and laughing are heard in the courtyard. we didn't give up, continuing to believe in the projects even in difficult times. And, It is indeed a small paradise and the best maybe the most important thing, we thing is: Paul and I are mainly here to always knew that we couldn't do this all enjoy the outcome of a dream that we alone and we will never forget who helped envisioned almost ten years ago. Back us to come this far! then everyone was telling us: You are crazy, you don't know anything about farming and your plans are totally unrealistic! How can you plan all that Hussni Bugis without having the special knowledge? (Participant from Saudi Arabia) And we always replied: “We just need a good team with capable local people who Different Celebrations In One believe in our dream and then you will Evening's Shot At The IISE see!" It took us five years and through the Saturday July 25th 2009 was the last strong motivation and commitment of our weekend of Act Three at the IISE. All colleagues, the helpful positive attitude of IISE participant groups (the preparatory the governmental officials and several school group, the blindsite group and my sponsors that were open and supportive, own group, "DEVISE", or “Development of our dream came true. Visually Impaired Systems") had to present our project proposals at the Today the sun is shining, horses are premises of UST Global, in Technopark, trotting freely around the harvested fields, Trivandrum. The event was to begin at a boy plays the Dramnyiae in the 9:00 am. courtyard and blind students are sitting in the shadows of trees on bright green The DEVISE team included Khom, from lawns doing their homework. And then Nepal; Julius, from Ghana; Victor, James, comes a soft knock on the office door. and Johnson, from Liberia; Gompo "Paleb, Paleb!" (bread, bread) Three Gyentsen, from Tibet; and lastly, myself, broadly smiling ladies come in with bags from Saudi Arabia. All together we of fresh warm good-smelling bread and presented our project, the "International crispy croissants. "Life is beautiful," Paul Center for Research and Assistive sighs, chewing joyfully on a homemade Technology" (I-CREATE) for the blind. organic cheese sandwich. We prepared a short play, and my lines Yes, we are lucky, lucky to be able to work came last. This was because on that day with such committed colleagues and 12 members of my family, including my students, lucky to enjoy the beauty of mother, wife, son, daughter, aunt, two Tibet and lucky to now live and work in sisters, three nephews and two nieces Kerala where we are surrounded by so were arriving at Trivandrum International many motivated and talented people! But Airport at 8:00 am. So I was at the airport wait a minute ... is it just luck? I guess we that morning to welcome them and take allowed ourselves to dream, were them straight to the hotel I had already stubborn enough not to listen to the booked for their stay. Only then, after I discouraging comments of many people had settle in my family, did I rush to

26 November 2009 Technopark, bringing my wife along. participant from Germany came up to the front and delivered a very short speech As soon as I entered the UST Global about the occasion of Karin's birthday (a auditorium, I noticed my group had participant from Norway). We all sang for already started the presentation and that Karin the birthday song. After that, I my part would begin within three minutes. joined Robert from Kenya, Julius and Eric I took my seat in the front row and from Ghana, Yoshi from Japan and Kyila prepared myself. I introduced my wife to from Tibet to deliver our traditional recital almost everyone in the auditorium after of African chants; we sang the Ghanaian the presentation. chant and the famous "Malaika” song for A couple of days before my family took off our Karin. She stated: "I will never forget to Trivandrum, I had asked them to this birthday because I celebrated it jointly prepare themselves to do a Saudi cultural with so many occasions at the same time show at the IISE. I announced it on in the IISE." Friday, July 24th during our GA (General Assembly). On Saturday afternoon, I brought my family to IISE campus to show them the place. We came back the next day around teatime. To my great surprise, my family had brought with them some Saudi cookies, dates, sweets and cakes from home. As soon as they arrived, my wife (Ferial) and my sister (Amal) entered the kitchen of the IISE and started making some Arabian coffee and hot almond milk drink for my IISE family. Hussni Bugis That evening was one of many celebrations. We started by celebrating Shortly after we finished the songs, I our final weekend of act three, after eight announced the start of the Saudi culture exhausting weeks of continuous project show. We celebrated all these occasions: work. During dinner, Victor from Liberia the end of Act Three, Liberia announced the celebration of the Liberian Independence Day, Karin's birthday, and Independence Day. He came up on the a farewell party for Sabriye and Paul (Co- stage of the dining hall and called all the founders of Braille Without Borders), who Liberians (James, Johnson and Sahr) to were leaving for Germany early the next join him. They started their act with morning. Sabriye stated about the Liberian chants and ended with their evening: "There was so much love and National Anthem. Victor started by his great vibration on this weekend!" most impressive chant from Liberia. As Paul (Co-founder of Braille Without That night, my son Hommam, my three Borders) describes him: "He was bending nephews and myself were wearing our down backwards so far that I was afraid Saudi traditional dress called “Thoub,” he would fall over.” and our headwear called “Omamah.” My daughter Mountaha and my two nieces A few minutes later, Jessica, the were wearing also the Saudi female long

27 November 2009 fashion Arabian dress. catalysts told me that they had a wonderful party and that they were I asked my son to play a folklore song amazed by the Saudi show and the Saudi called “Mizmar,” on the occasion of which food. Isabel (one of the catalysts) stated "I dancers hold a stick in their hands while remember very fondly that night, the dancing to the rhythm of drumbeats. atmosphere was magical". She had a lot Since we didn't have any sticks, I ran to of fun with my family and enjoyed every the audience and collected white canes single moment of the Saudi night show. from Jessica, Yoshi and Sabriye, who are totally blind. My son, nephews and myself started dancing on stage, moving the white sticks up, down and around with different movements. Everyone in the Special thanks to Philipp Obier for most audience started clapping and moving. of the photographs! Suddenly some participants and catalysts started coming on stage moving and Content: Martin Niry dancing with us to the Mizmar beats. Layout: Philipp Obier, Nora Hartenstein People were standing very close to the Edited by: Talal Achi, stage to capture this special moment of Isabel Torres group bliss. Many were holding white canes and dancing. After the first song, Please visit our webpage: all shouted” “We want more! We want www.bwb-iise.org more! We want more!”

My son Hommam played the second song and again everybody moved from their chairs, dancing and clapping to the drumbeats. Even the kitchen staff were dancing and clapping to the Saudi folklore songs. When the third song was played, all dancers went crazy. They all moved in a circle on the stage while someone went into the center and danced. Sahr from Liberia told me that night: "It was a Saudi wonderful night without the Saudi flag." I had forgotten to bring it along when I came to India.

After the show, my family left IISE to go back to the Residency Tower Hotel in town, while I stayed at the campus. They said goodbye to all my friends, participants and catalysts. My family enjoyed everyone at the IISE very much. Next morning, all participants and

28 November 2009