Opportunities in sight

"ONE CANDLE has been lit, but hundreds are waiting to be lit." This is how Preeti Monga, Head of Public Relations at Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, sums up her achievements trying to overcome the darkness that envelops her world. She was in Chennai to conduct a two-day Communication Skills Development Programme for the visually-impaired, along with George Abraham, Director, National Vision Enhancement Centre, New Delhi. The workshop was sponsored by the Amway Opportunity Fund, which is the social responsibility arm of Amway India, the largest direct selling company in the country. "I have been wishing to share my personal experiences that would help others who are in the same predicament as I am in. But where to share, and how to share," is the concern of Preeti's soul. Fortunately, there are some organisations that also make "social responsibility' an essential attribute of their raison d etre, and thanks to Amway Opportunity Fund, 'help is in sight for those who live in the despair of darkness'.

S. Viswanathan, Senior Executive, Corporate Communication, with Amway India Enterprises, states, "The focus of AOF in India is on 'education for the blind', striving to open a world of opportunity for the visually-impaired and bring them into the mainstream of society." Of the 12 million blind in India, two million are children, and only a fraction of this staggering number has the opportunity to attend government-run special and integrated schools. Even so, only six to eight per cent of blind students have access to Braille books. The AOF has undertaken the task of printing and distributing Braille textbooks for the special and integrated schools in association with the All India Confederation for the Blind and the National Association for the Blind. The AOF has also supported the production of audio textbooks for undergraduate as well as postgraduate students of Bangalore University along with the AICBH.

The AOF's concern for the visually-impaired also extends to helping organise cultural fiestas and competitions not only exclusively for the blind youth but also for those who are not handicapped. This brings out the competitive spirit and encourages the blind to put in that extra bit of punch in their effort to clinch the rewards.

The Amway Mobile Training Programme for the Blind focusses on recognising and appreciating the importance of communication skills. Communication is the key to success in today's world, and it is of greater import in the case of the educated blind. The workshop attempts to zero-in on certain important aspects like sharpening communication skills through conversation practice, especially in English. It involves clarity of expression, voice modulation, and proper diction.

The exercises on personality development include grooming, posture, cleanliness, and presentation which are very important to enhance acceptability in society. Such assets and skills divert attention from the blindness of a person to his overall personality.

Preeti Monga is vehement in her views which are tested on the touchstone of her own attempts to conquer her disability. "The golden rule is to enable myself to accept my disability. Then I will be comfortable with myself, and then the world will be comfortable with me. I must, therefore, learn to adjust in society. When I cease to be a pain to society, I am accepted. When you can understand and accept the behaviour of the outside world, then you can build bridges."

The workshop conducted at the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped in Poonamalee was attended by 19 young men and six girls between 16 and 22 years of age. Most of the training centred on how to conduct oneself at interviews and the importance of developing 'listening skills.' The aim was to ensure that trained youth are not left out of the employment market on account of their impaired vision. Throughout the workshop there was camaraderie, competitiveness, and humour among the participants. Some of them claimed that they wanted to be lawyers, and teachers. One delegate also wished to be a systems analyst. With the new speech software made available to this strata of society by technological advancement, nothing is impossible for them to achieve if the right attitude is cultivated and the will is strong.

The next two months will see Thomas and Preeti conducting similar workshops at Shimoga, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Alvar, Bangalore, Punjab and Delhi - eventually reaching out to small towns and villages too, helped by Amway in their mission.

PERVIZ BHOTE

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : Too clever by half?
Next     : Gift a thought