Visual Impairment Programme

Jyothirgamaya Foundation, has the following activities:
I. Mobile blind school:
The mobile blind school adopts the unique approach of taking the school to the doorstep. Training the blind people at the grassroots. We go to their places of residence in the rural areas, as they are often unable to come to our organization or go to other organizations located in urban areas. This is mainly due to ignorance, negligence on the part on their guardians and lack of awareness about disability. India being a country with one third of the world’s disabled population, the need for their rehabilitation, integration and inclusion is at its peak. After identifying them at their homes, we bring them to our center for further training.
II. Empowerment training programme:
Jyothirgamaya provides a fully-fledged empowerment residential training to eight to then participants with visual impairment of all ages in all skills paving the way for their holistic and dignified lives. They are trained in access technology in all its latest forms which includes all four operating systems Linux, windows, android, and IOS. They are also given detailed training in employability skills, communicative English, independent living and independent travel. All above mentioned activities are absolutely free of charge for the blind participants, who are of all ages from 12 to 40.
III. Road to Independence training camps:
Here we gather a certain number of blind people, from a particular area, make a tie up with the blind organizations of that particular area and conduct a one week to ten day camp for them. Here they are taught with the utmost intensity, as well as fun and frolic. They are given opportunity to speak and voice their opinion, to taste the fruits of independence. In terms of skills they are taught within the stipulated time, access technology, orientation and mobility, daily living skills, and soft skills. Towards the end of the camp they are taken on a tour to a nearby place, in accordance to the feasibility.
IV. Women with wings:
Women and girls are exclusively trained in confidence building, self-defense, rights awareness, cooking, shopping, internet banking and other necessary skills, enabling them to hold their heads up high, and live with dignity and independence despite their gender and disability.
V. Vocational training:
Financial independence is also one of the key factors that Jyothirgamaya emphasizes for its blind participants. Besides our IT training programme, we also provide training to blind people in vocational skills such as handicraft work which include making dream catchers, paper bags, envelopes, etc.
VI. Adapted Physical Education and Yoga:
If sighted people can run, do yoga, play games and enjoy life, why can’t we? As an answer to this question, we let our blind students experience all that is possible within their capabilities. They are trained in games like ball, tug of war and guide running. Blind yoga is also taught to increase their concentration power and flexibility. At present we are conducting weekly three classes where we have yoga masters, who are in this field for years as guest faculties and they train our students in yogic poses and meditation. Most of our students have cherished the fruitfulness of yoga, during this pandemic priod which helped them in maintaining a stable mental and physical life.
VII .WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
Being a girl with a disability, Tiffany, the founder of Jyothirgamaya is well aware of the challenges faced by women with disabilities and how they are suppressed and confined. As a solution to this problem, Jyothirgamaya conducts exclusive empowerment workshops for them, letting them free, enabling them to raise their voices, express their concerns become aware of their rights and health conditions and also to have fun, which they are mostly deprived of.
VIII. AUDIO LIBRARY:
Everyone loves knowledge and has a natural thirst for it. The sighted can easily quench this thirst due to the numerous of books and other material available to them. But what about the blind? Jyothirgamaya provides audio library services where books and educational material is recorded in the regional languages and is provided to blind people in accessible formats.
The volunteer shall be expected to do the following:
1) Participate in all programmes/events organized by the organization
2) To help and later facilitate English, soft skills, and other classes for the students.
3) The volunteer can feel free to implement any idea, game, or activity with the students, as the learning is focused, but flexible and can be modified.
4) The volunteer is expected to try and enhance/develop the all-round personality of the students, to instil in them confidence, and broaden their horizon, as the blind are mostly less fortunate and lack exposure this can be done by interaction, games, and any formal/informal means.
5) To help the organization with translating its materials in to the volunteers own language, which may further help in spreading the word of the organization in the volunteers own country.
6) To try and help the organization in discovery and research of new materials which may enhance better teaching, and better living of persons with visual impairment.
7) To help the organization in looking for potential supporting/likeminded organizations, which may further be able to support and collaborate.
8) All in all to be a part of the organization, during their stay, and even after.
9) The volunteer on personal choice will be also allowed to observe and also contribute in other partner organizations relating to visual impairment.