Take a sneak peek into the days of January at B.R.A.
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World Braille Day! 4 Jan, 2019
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The ability to read and write makes one literate, not simply listening to audio files
Thank you Louis Braille for the gift that has made the visually impaired literate men and women.
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The World Braille Day was commemorated at the Blind Relief Association, Delhi on 4 January. Mr. P.D. Sharma, former Principal of JPM Senior Secondary School was the chief guest of the occasion.
The Braille version of JPM School magazine ‘Anubhuti’ and the BRA brochure were released. Prizes were distributed to the winners of competitions held in reading and writing Braille. The teacher trainees of Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education shared the history of Louis Braille, new teaching methods and the challenges involved. An interesting feature of the programme was an open discussion on "Braille in the Age of Technology."
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Other competitions
Two students from JPM Senior Secondary School were winners of the 18th All India Braille Reading and Writing Competition conducted by All India Confederation of the Blind. Mehtab Jamil won the third prize in Junior Hindi Reading and Shivam Kakkar won the second prize in Senior English Writing. They were awarded with cash prizes of Rs. 3000 and Rs. 5000 respectively. 79 participants from 12 states belonging to over 25 institutions participated in this event.
In another competition conducted by the National Federation of the Blind, Tushar Jindal won the first prize of R. 15,000 in Hindi Braille writing.
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Konnichiwa Madam Kaori Kono 8 Jan, 2019
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‘Konnichiwa’ was the Japanese greeting that could be heard in every room and corridor of the Blind Relief Association on 8 January. The students and trainees were preparing to welcome Mrs. Kaori Kono, spouse of the Foreign Minister of Japan.
While ‘Konnichiwa’ which means ‘Good day’ was probably the only Japanese term most of the people at B.R.A could speak, it was not so for the suwaru nihongo (Touch Japanese) group of blind students comprising old and current students of JPM School, bankers and researchers who study Japanese language using Japanese Braille. They could speak fluently with Mrs. Kono. In an interaction session with these students, the visitor was impressed by their interest and progress in the language brought by B.R.A in its endeavour to teach Japanese to its students since 2012.
Accompanied by Mrs. Patricia Hiramatsu, wife of the Japanese ambassador to India, Mrs. Kono observed the various programmes run by the Association. She visited the computer training center, call center, multi skill training unit and Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education. Mrs. Kono was greatly impressed and interested to know the different paths of skill training and education the visually impaired are involved in.
She then interacted with a group of blind
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students studying Japanese language. Mrs. Kono was enthralled by the fluency of the students and listened to their concerns on lack of Japanese material in Braille, in India. She also encouraged them to visit Japan for a cultural exchange program.
Mrs. Itsuko Nandi, professionally trained Japanese volunteer and veteran who has been connected with the Blind Relief Association was also present at the discussion. The Blind Relief Association has been organising Japanese language classes to its students at JPM Senior Secondary School for the Blind with the help of Japanese volunteer teachers ever since 2012. In the year 2016, the Association also took a delegation of students to Japan to give them the opportunity to experience life and culture of Japan. They interacted with the students of Mie Prefectural Blind School which is one of the oldest blind schools in Japan, besides visiting famous places like Ise Grand Shrine, Futami, Mikimoto Pearl Island etc.
Most of the students who undertook elementary classes in Japanese from the Blind Relief Association have continued to maintain interest in the language and Japan. Deepak Gupta, currently pursuing his M.A (English) from St. Stephen’s College in Delhi is the first visually impaired person to have completed a diploma program in Japanese language from Delhi University.
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Bidding Adieu 10 Jan, 2019
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Unless a bird has seen the sky and a ship has touched the ocean, it never gets an opportunity to display its true skills.
After their completion of multi-skill and massage training for one year and 6 months respectively, it is time for the 15 trainees at B.R.A to show their fullest potential. 6 trainees from the 10th batch of Multi-Skill Unit and 9 trainees from 35/2 batch of Relaxation Massage Unit were awarded certificates and given a warm farewell this afternoon.
Mr. KC Pande, Hony. Executive Secretary;
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Mr. Mohanan, Deputy Executive Secretary (Admin) and Mr. David. A Deputy Executive Secretary (Operations) interacted and wished all the trainees good luck. A short feedback session was also carried out by Mr. David in gathering inputs for the upcoming batch.
The succeeding trainees also sang a farewell song in bidding good-by to their seniors. As these trainees take their take next step, the B.R.A wishes them all a successful career and a relationship with us that lasts longer than the span of training.
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Warmth in the winter 13 Jan, 2019
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The winter could be long, but plentiful is the harvest it brings. The winter could be icy, but greater is the appreciation of warmth that springs.
The vocational trainees and some of the staff and former students gathered near the school building block for a warm bonfire on the evening of 13 January.
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As Mr. K.C. Pande, Hony. Executive Secretary of the Blind Relief Association narrated the stories associated with Lohri and similar such events throughout India and the neighboring countries, the gathering celebrated the harvest and relished the fire with 'revaris' and 'moongphali.'
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Visitors from Alabama 14 Jan, 2019
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In 1955, the Blind Relief Association had a visitor from Alabama, who laid the foundation stone of the Association's building.
The icon of inspiration, Helen Keller.
64 years later, B.R.A had another visitor from Alabama, in fact the former president of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.
Dr. Jack Hawkins, the current Chancellor of Troy University along with Mr. Sohail Agboatwala, Associate Vice Chancellor visited campus on January 14 and were amazed to see the various programs for the blind run by B.R.A.
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Dr. Hawkins served as the president of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega from 1979-1989. He has also served as a trustee of the Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation, and the American Foundation for the Blind. The “Jack and Janice Hawkins Chapel” at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind has been named in his honor.
With decades of experience in the field of visual and hearing impairment, Dr. Hawkins was intrigued to see what the Blind Relief Association offered. He shared innovative ideas on improving the employment opportunities for the blind and spoke words of encouragement to the trainees of the Association.
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Martyrs' Day 30 Jan, 2019
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On a greeny hillock, stood the Charkha clad in a white piece of cloth. Facing the Charkha stood a gathering of students, trainees, and staff of the Blind Relief Association.
The death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi designated as Martyrs' Day in memory of innumerable freedom fighters who laid down their lives for India's independence, was solemnly observed in 'Shanti Niketan' a park developed by the
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voluntary work of JPM School students within the premises of B.R.A. In paying homage, the JPM School students and the trainees from the computer training and vocational training unit read prayers of seven different faiths: Zoroastrian, Jain, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Christian and Sikh.
The gathering observed a minute of silence at 5:17 P.M when the bullets pierced the Father of the Nation on this day 71 years ago.
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