Roshan Aankhen Khushhaal Jahaan

Our Story of Change 2011(Design for change)

Sharada Mandir School, Miramar , Goa.

.Mentor Teacher : Mrs. Geeta Kumar

Students: Navna Pandita, Anoushka Mehta,Sara Niketa Lawande.Laiqah Khan

Our motiveWe decided to do the best we can to bring vision, joy and hope in the eyes and lives of blind students.

The Design for Change provided the opportunity for us to learn about and do service to fellow human beings who are visually impaired.

Reaching Out Our destination was the National Association for the Blind, Santa Cruz, Goa

NAB is an organization which is involved in the welfare of the blind since the year 1952.

They housed 20 inmates of which 3 were totally blind and the rest were partially blind. This association houses 20 kids, three are completely blind and rest partially blind. These kids are from the age group 9 to 16.We spoke to Ms. Leena Prabhu and found out their needs. We found that they are short of readers and teachers who can read and explain to them. They needed specialised eye testing with the latest technology.

IMAGINEOur Multi Pronged Approach

Collection of funds Eye donation DriveTalk to students about the value of eyesInvolving students and giving them first

hand experience in helping out their blind friends

Getting the best medical testing done

Plan of Action

Organized a school fair (food court and selling of handmade cards and bookmarks) . Parents Teachers and students whole heartedly participated. Parents cooked and sent food, students bought it with pre paid coupons, teachers also put up stalls to sell eatables and cards and book marks. Special coupons were designed for this purpose.

Mr. Avinash Bhonsle a Rotarian visited our school to enlighten us about eye donation and eye bank facility in Goa. Following this our children and teachers came forward and willingly registered for eye donation.The children motivated the parents to also do the same.

Helping hands with a fresh approach- the result

Collection of Rs. 37,000 in two hours of food court

Eye donation drive with more than 100 people filling up the forms

Selling of 200 kgs. old newspaper by the ECO Club of the school and contributing to the funds.

Food Court , bookmarks and cards

being sold

We gifted Sony voice Recorders which can be used by the students to record explanations and lecture and listen to it over and over again. Head set has also been provided for clear audio .The recorded file can be stored on the PC too. The teachers/helpers need not be present physically, the lesson can be recorded and handed over to them to hear and learn.

Buying of new bags and stationery and items related to personal hygiene have been donated by the students

BAGS AND STATIONERY

Rtn. Avinash Bhonsle about eye donation and eye bank facility in Goa. The sony voice recorder for the nab Centre

Eye check up with the best Opthalmologist in town., Dr. Nolan De Souza and the most heartening news ..the highpoint is that ………..two of the partially blind children have been referred to the L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. We are going ahead and sponsoring their expenses if the parents are willing to get them treated.

• The blind children’s exams were about to start from the 10th of Oct so the students , teachers and parents from our school went to read out notes and explain lessons to them.

Teaching and explanation going on before their exams

The ChangeWe have educated our students about the

blind people and their requirements and develop their social responsibility towards visually impaired citizens. We felt the need to ignite in them the fire to care and share.. And yes…. our students rose to the occasion.

We also have found a new purpose in our lives ..to spread smiles across miles..in bring about light in the lives of those who need the most .

When these students read the lessons to their blind friends they learned how to be good listeners

They learned about the magic of touch.When they shared notebooks and black

felt pens they realized the power of black and white.

When they shared gifts with their blind friends they learned the value of smile. A campaign for eye donation made them realize “ an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”but if a blind person gets an eye he can see the whole world.

The Design for Change week will stretch on and on ..forever Teacher speak…..

We will continue to keep this work of ours on in full swing ..and will do everything for these wonderful children who are now an

imprint on our memory .

Geeta Kumar on behalf of Sharada Mandir Junior School, Goa