On World Chocolate Day on 7 July, a team from the International Institute of Culinary Arts, New Delhi baked and shared brownies with the students and trainees of the Blind Relief Association.
Graduation Ceremonies
Thirteen vocational trainees comprising 7 from Multi-Skill Training and 6 from Relaxation Massage Training graduated on 8 July 2022 and received their certificates. On the occasion, massage kits were distributed as a part of the Livelihood Project. Ms. Jaspreet Kaur from Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic Family Salon graced the occasion.
Keen on encouraging self-employment, the Association provides sewing machines and massage kits to identified trainees.
The sixth batch of the 6-month Basic Computer & Office Operations course graduated and were given a farewell on 11 July. Of the batch comprising 9 trainees, 2 have already been placed with D'art Design, and one with IDBI Bank, Punjab. At the farewell, the trainees shared about how the course helped them learn more than just operating computers but also equipped them to be competent persons.
Celebrating HPCL's Founders Day
The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited celebrated its 48th Founders Day with the students and trainees of the Blind Relief Association on 15 July 2022.
The Association is grateful for HPCL's meaningful gift of folding canes, Braille sheets, and tree saplings that were planted by Mr. Rajesh Mehtani, Chief General Manager North Zone, and Mr. Siddhartha Misra, General Manager Delhi Retail Region. The team also observed the different training units of the Association.
Art Workshop
Under the Multi Skill Training programme of the Association, the trainees are also exposed to different workshops on art, cooking, etc. conducted with the help of experts in the field, from time to time.
Thanks to Prosper Humanity Trust and Indian Hobby Ideas for the art workshop held on 23 July 2022.
Eye Screening with Vision Spring
A big thanks to VisionSpring for organizing eye-screenings of 144 low vision/ partially sighted students of the JPM Senior Secondary School for the Blind on 26 July 2022. The students were also provided the prescribed glasses by Vision Spring.
Nayar Kabaddi Trophy
Deviating from its usual cricket tournament, this year the JPM School students organized the Nayar Kabaddi Championship. Two teams - JPM Stars and JPM Super Giants competed and in the final match held on 2 August, JPM Stars emerged as winners and bagged the trophy. Prince from JPM Stars and Govind from JPM Super Giants won the Man of the Series title
under the B1 and B2 categories respectively. Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic Family Salon sponsored refreshments for the players.
New Massage Trainer from Japan
The Blind Relief Association welcomed Mr. Seki Hisashi, JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer) dispatched by the Japan International Cooperation Agency to support the Association's Relaxation Massage Training as a Shiatsu Massage Instructor for a period of two years.
Mr. Joyanta Rabha and Ms. Yasuko Tsuchiya of JICA formally introduced Mr. Seki to the Association on 3 August 2022. Mr. Seki is now regularly imparting specialized skills in massage to the trainees, along with Mr. Shyam Kishore - the Association's Trainer.
Collab with Story Hour, UK
The Blind Relief Association was excited to join hands with StoryHourUK - an initiative by Ms. Neelima Penumarthy, in offering its visually impaired students to lend their voices for the Hindi edition of their latest audiobook on the Indian Independence titled - "A Brief History of Indian Independence - From The Mughals To The Mahatma" written by two teenagers - Ayur Pulle and Aarush Kumbhakern.
Ankit Kumar Singh, a Class XII student in JPM Senior Secondary School, and Rishika Rana, a first-year student of Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education were shortlisted and are being trained to narrate the audiobook. The English version of the audiobook was launched on 8 August at Triveni Kala Sangam auditorium. The occasion was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Sanjoy K Roy - Entrepreneur and Producer of Jaipur Literature Festival.
We made rakhis!
For the first time, the Multi-Skill trainees were trained to make rakhis. Available in different designs, the rakhis were put on sale at the Association's counter. Also, these were available at the stall set up by Healthians on their premises in Gurugram on 10 August.
Independence Day Celebrations
Pre-Independence Day celebrations were held at the Blind Relief Association on 13 August with a flag hoisting followed by a cultural programme by the school students and trainees of the Association. Dr. Dayal Singh Pawar, Associate Professor at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University and a distinguished alumnus of JPM School graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and hoisted the national flag. The cultural programme at the Gandhi Hall included poems, speeches, patriotic group songs, orchestral performances, and a play on women empowerment "LAJJA" enacted by the vocational trainees.
Again on 15 August, the students, trainees, and in-house staff gathered for flag hoisting. Following this, Prof (Dr.) Minu Bakshi – a popular singer, poet, linguist, social worker, and philanthropist presented a music concert in the Association's Gandhi Hall. Her presentation comprising a range of patriotic songs was immensely enjoyed and cheered by the students that brought life to celebrating 75 years of Indian Independence.
Janmashtami
Janmashtami is a very special festival that the students and alumni of the Association eagerly look forward to. Besides celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, it's also a time when the alumni, present trainees, and students meet and spend a day together in the Association. it's a 2-day event of festivity which began on 18th August
night concluding on Janmashtami night of 19th. The alumni and students took turns to read from Braille copies of the Ramcharitmanas round the clock, culminating with Janmashtami Pooja and the singing of bhajans. The programme was organized and managed by the Class XII students of JPM School.
Visitors from MOC
On 31 August, the Blind Relief Association welcomed two significant well-wishers and long-time friends - Dr. Jose Martines and Mr. Stephen Monte Sant'Angelo from the Military Order of the Collar Charitable Foundation, UK. On visiting India after the pandemic, the duo arrived at the Association and learned of the recent developments in B.R.A.
and also went around the training units and the new building, which is also supported by MOC in furnishing it.
Honoured by Army Chief
Dr. Manoj Kumar, a teacher of JPM Senior Secondary School was received by Army Chief Gen. Manoj Pande in his office. Dr. Manoj presented one of his books - Ghati Ko Grahan published in 2021.
Corporal Manoj Kumar was part of the Indian Air Force team and lost his eyesight in 1998 after suffering a severe injury while on duty. His life story was covered and published by The Hindu on 12 August. The article can be found here.
Yogesh's Dream of a Cafe
A charming smile is all we see, but going through depression for years is something that only Yogesh might know.
Hailing from Ramsin, Jalore in Rajasthan, Yogesh grew up like a healthy child until he was 16. His sudden loss of vision left him with a future that he never imagined for himself. As a child, art
interested Yogesh and he always wanted to be an artist. But dreams shattered too quickly and left Yogesh in depression for three years.
Yogesh joined the Multi Skill Training at the Blind Relief Association in 2021 and equipped himself with skills that revived the artist in him. Of the skills learned, baking interested Yogesh so much that he aspires to be an entrepreneur and run a cafe in his hometown. Since the cafe will be situated on a highway, he hopes it will attract a large number of students from the nearby colleges as well. "I can bake cookies and cupcakes, I am also specialized in making mint tea," says Yogesh with a proud smile.
CBSE Board Exam Results
All 25 students of Class XII of the Association's JPM School cleared the CBSE board exams in the First Division with a total of 90 subject distinctions. The toppers were Tushar Jindal 91.4%, Vishal Saini 90.6%, Aditya 87.2%
Similarly, all 20 Class X students cleared the CBSE board exams in the First Division. The toppers were Pratyush Kumar 89.4%, Mohammad Asif 88.6%, Manish Kumar 88.2%.
Apart from the JPM School students, 9 and 7 vocational trainees cleared CBSE Class XII and Class X examinations respectively as private candidates. The toppers were
Class X: Nishu Kumari - 74.4%, Rima Kumari - 63%, Samselam - 48%
Class XII: Aman Gupta - 75.2%, Vicky Prasad - 71%, Nehru Verma - 68.8%
It goes to the credit of the vocational trainees who mostly have missed out on school education altogether or are marginally educated to succeed in academics as well. The trainees are encouraged to complete school besides learning vocational skills, thanks to the partnership with Youth 4 Jobs Foundation who play a significant role in achieving such results.
Farewell
Shri Gopal Singh who served 37 years as a Cook in Association's Mess and Shri Moolchand who served 30 years as the Physical Education Teacher in the JPM School were given a warm farewell on 31 July. The families of both the staff members had gathered at the Gandhi Hall along with colleagues and friends. In sharing the memories of good days and happy moments, both Shri Gopal and Shri Moolchand conveyed their deep gratitude for the Association. They were presented mementos and gifts by the Association, teachers, and staff, as a token of appreciation for their service and friendship.
Obituary
An old trainee of the Blind Relief Association, Sri Magar Lal passed away on 12 August in the hostel of the institution after a prolonged illness. He was under the care of the Association. The trainees, as well as alumni, warmly remember spending a good time with him in the hostel. A havan ceremony was held in the Association's Gandhi Hall on 24 August 2022. The Association prays for the departed soul.
Other updates
1. In the Zonal Level school competitions under the aegis of the Directorate of Education, the students of JPM School participated and won the following positions:
Group Patriotic Song (Boys Division) – Second Place
Extempore Hindi – Ankit Kumar Singh (Senior) Second Place
Declamation Hindi – Ankit Kumar Singh (Senior) First Place, Atul Yadav (Junior) First Place
Poem Recitation Hindi – Ankit Kumar Singh (Senior) Second Place, Sumit Kumar Jha (Junior) – Second Place
Debate Hindi –Sumit Kumar Jha and Yashraj Sharma (Junior) - First Place
Light Vocal Music - Ayush Bhati (Junior) Second Place, Manjeet (Senior) First Place
2. . The first-year teacher trainees and the staff of Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education visited the National Museum on 6 July 2022. The visually impaired trainees explored the Tactile Gallery which focused on the Indus Valley Civilization.
3. Five Multi-Skill Trainees have been placed with Subros Limited in August as semi-skilled workers in the Packaging Section.
We are grateful to the regular donors and contributors who partner in our cause of serving the visually impaired.
A special mention to Sri Prasad & family from Canada for their thoughtful and generous gift of 213 sets (2 pants & 3 shirts) of school uniforms for our students, necessary garments for the female trainees, besides 10 cots & 5 lockers and medicines for the school hostel.
