Donate for Higher Education Support of Blind Girls

Each year, Mitra Jyothi extends a helping hand to 15 visually impaired girls from marginalized societies, offering them crucial guidance and support for their higher education pursuits. This year has been no exception, we witnessed the graduation of 2 of our girls who successfully earned their Bachelor's degrees. The remaining girls are progressing through various stages of their educational journeys. Among them, Anneamma's transformative 5-year journey with Mitra Jyothi stands as an inspiring example.

Anneamma's Journey to Empowerment through Mitra Jyothi and Beyond

 Anneamma, a determined visually impaired individual, embarked on a transformative educational journey that led her towards empowerment and independence. Beginning with her Pre-University education (Grade 11 and 12), she pursued her academic aspirations with unwavering dedication. Her path took her to the Government Degree College in Agara, Bengaluru, where she completed a comprehensive three-year undergraduate program.

During her educational voyage, Anneamma found a nurturing environment at Mitra Jyothi, an organization dedicated to supporting visually impaired individuals. Over a span of five years, Anneamma thrived within the enriching atmosphere provided by Mitra Jyothi. Equipped with cutting-edge assistive technologies, she conquered academic challenges with newfound ease. Moreover, she underwent essential mobility training, enabling her to independently commute to and from college every day.

Mitra Jyothi's impact on Anneamma's life extended beyond academics. Evening sessions with dedicated volunteers enhanced her educational experience, propelling her towards success. The organization became a catalyst for her personal growth, enabling her to develop a multitude of skills. Anneamma's journey at Mitra Jyothi unfolded as a comprehensive learning experience, encompassing mobility skills, spoken English proficiency, culinary prowess, artistic craftsmanship, digital literacy, and more. The acquisition of these skills contributed to her blossoming independence.

Upon the completion of her undergraduate degree, Anneamma's thirst for knowledge led her to the National Association for the Blind (NAB). Here, she embarked on a basic computer course, which she successfully completed, earning a well-deserved certificate. Armed with her newfound computer skills, she continued to chart her own course.

Presently, Anneamma's path has taken her to multiple endeavours. She is diligently preparing for competitive exams, showcasing her determination and aspiration for excellence. Additionally, she has channelled her creative talents into small-scale business ventures cantered around crafting. As she explores various opportunities, she remains steadfast in her quest for meaningful employment.

Looking ahead, Anneamma envisions a future imbibed with further educational achievements. Her dreams encompass pursuing a Bachelors in Education and a Master’s in Education in order to enhance her qualifications. With a tenacious spirit, she aspires to secure a government job, a goal that stands as a testament to her remarkable journey of empowerment.

Anneamma's story exemplifies the transformative power of education, support, and personal drive. Through her experiences at Mitra Jyothi and beyond, she has not only grown as an individual but also become an inspiration to others on the path to empowerment and success.

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• Visit our website to learn more about the work we do

Mitra Jyothi prioritizes the empowerment of visually impaired (VI) girls through education, particularly those from remote villages and underprivileged backgrounds. To achieve this goal, the organization offers support for higher education to VI girls who have demonstrated academic excellence and have completed grade 10.

Selected girls are enrolled in educational institutions in Bangalore and provided with a range of assistance, including braille reading, and writing coaching, assistive aids usage training, computer training, mobility training, life skills coaching, along with boarding and lodging facilities. Our volunteers work as tutors with the students in the evenings and help them with their lessons. 

By providing comprehensive educational support, Mitra Jyothi enables financially disadvantaged VI girls to access quality education to improve their future prospects.

In addition to the aforementioned services, we provide various other programs to prepare individuals for the challenges of the world. These include spoken English classes, personality development classes, career counselling, education on basic rights – RPD 2016 (Rights to persons with disability), mobility and orientation training, signature training, and training on independent living skills.

This 360-degree facility at Mitra Jyothi's HSR Bengaluru campus has enabled many visually impaired girls from rural and remote areas in India to pursue higher education and walk out from Mitra Jyothi with confidence and lead an independent life.

Higher Education for visually impaired girls till date:

• Offers a secure shelter for female students with visual impairments to study.
• Taking away the financial burden on them by providing free boarding and lodging.
• Promote the pursuit of mainstream Higher education for rural women with visual impairment, in urban areas such as Bangalore, where quality education is available.
• Encourage and draw women with visual impairment from remote regions to enrol for mainstream education.
• Create opportunities for women with visual impairment from distant areas to experience urban culture and prepare themselves for the competitive world.

“I reach for the stars, even if I can’t see them”

At Mitra Jyothi, we strongly believe that primary education and higher education plays a significant role in the world of a visually challenged person. It fosters a feeling of independence, self-reliance and a high level of self-esteem. Higher education gives them the confidence to, learn, think, and ideate and explore the world around them.

Mitra Jyothi focuses on education opportunities for girls from socio economically marginalized communities to complete their higher education through a recognized educational institution that caters to an inclusive world. In 2022, Mitra Jyothi assisted 7 girls for their Pre University studies and 3 girls for their under graduation studies. These 10 girls will continue their studies through 2023. They study in the Govt. Independent PU College and Govt. First grade Degree College, Agara, Bengaluru.

The girls completed their high school from their native towns and were very apprehensive and uncertain when they came to Mitra Jyothi. At Mitra Jyothi, they were counselled, guided and convinced to continue their education, and to aim to graduate with flying colors. The girls who enroll for higher education are also given the option to up skill themselves by signing up for basic training in Computer education, where they are introduced to the digital world through screen reading software.

Apart from Computer training, the girls are also introduced to the world of Orientation and Mobility. This aims to facilitate independent and efficient movement and functioning in day to day areas of life. This training enables the visually impaired person to navigate and move around safely in private and public places.

Apart from the above, during their association with Mitra Jyothi they are exposed to –

• Spoken English classes that enables them to experience an increased sense of inclusion among mainstream population.
• Life Skills programs that enable and empower them to manage their physical and psychological needs in an efficient manner.
• Basic home management skills from identification of grains and spices to cooking safely with fire.
• Sessions on sex education and health & safety across various topics.

At Mitra Jyothi, students can also access –

• Educational and non-educational material prepared at the Talking Book Library and the Braille Press. These are two prestigious programs of the institution, for seamless learning.
• Students under the Higher Education Program at Mitra Jyothi are given an opportunity to explore mainstream education by providing them with in-house boarding and lodging facilities for the entire duration of their course.
• This is a life changing experience for them as they develop wings and fly into a world full of opportunity, envisioning a beautiful future, where they can stand on their own feet and lead an independent life.
• We also help them with job placements, and help them secure a good job with socio economic security, amongst other things.

This is what some of our beneficiaries have to say -

“Thanks to Mitra Jyothi and their wonderful team, we were pulled out of darkness and shown a path we could travel to realize our dreams. We got an opportunity to pursue higher studies. We consider ourselves very fortunate and lucky to be given this opportunity. There are many children like us who do not get the opportunity to even attend primary education. Many visually impaired girls are not allowed to step out of their homes as parents are worried about their safety and security. But Mitra Jyothi has built our confidence and post our under grad studies, we would like to sit for competitive exams and find suitable jobs, or we may complete our post-graduation and then look for employment. We want to be financially and economically independent individuals.”

“Even without sight there is Vision”

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• Best way to support the visually challenged is by being involved

Saniya, a young, vibrant and charming girl, belonging to Bidar district of Karnataka, came to Mitra Jyothi with a strong ambition of becoming an IAS officer. She firmly believes that, the opportunity to go for higher studies, which she got through Mitra Jyothi’s Education Support Program, is the first step in her journey to achieve her goals.

Saniya is visually impaired by birth, raised in a lower-middle income family, whose father runs an artificial jewellery shop and mother is a housewife. She has an elder brother, pursuing graduation in B.com. Saniya studied in Matoshri Ambubai Residential School for Blind Girls in the Gulberga district of Karnataka till 10th standard. Saniya came to know about Mitra Jyothi from a senior student in her school and applied for the Education Support Program. Saniya got enrolled for her 1st PUC in (History, political Science and Economics) in Government 1st grade college, HSR layout Agara Bangalore for the academic year 2021 -22. Saniya says, “when I got selected for this sponsorship, it was like getting wings for my dreams. Without this, it will be very difficult for me to chase my dreams”.

Going to college is a very different experience for Saniya, because throughout her school life, she was in a residential school for blind children in her home city. She never experienced the world outside her school and family. Apart from pursuing higher education, the new life in Mitra Jyothi creates an opportunity for her to explore a new world with countless knowledge, wonders and adventures.

Saniya is vociferous when she talks about the mobility training that she got from Mitra Jyothi. She says “This is for the first time in my life, I got a well-structured mobility training. In fact, I was not even aware that mobility can be trained like this. It helped me a lot!!!! I started walking independently without the fear to fall. Above all, I feel very confident and proud when I go to college by walking independently along the sides of a road”. Saniya is very happy about the computer training and other essential skills learning sessions, that she receives from Mitra Jyothi along with the support for college education.

Being supported by Mitra Jyothi, they are getting the opportunity to explore our other prestigious programs like the Talking Book Library and Computer Training for the visually impaired. Life in Mitra Jyothi is not only giving them the opportunity to access higher education but also helping them to be empowered to live in the real world.

The world of a visually challenged person is consumed with darkness and despair. Both, primarily arising out of an inability to be independent and functional, in many aspects. Through education, one could foster the feeling of independence and self-reliance in a person. Giving them this opportunity to explore the world around them, invent, learn and motivate themselves has been the mission of Mitra Jyothi since the last 32 years.

At Mitra Jyothi, girls from socially and economically marginalized communities are given an opportunity to do their higher education in an institution that caters to an Inclusive World. These girls have completed high school from their native towns and arrive at Mitra Jyothi with a lot of uncertainty and apprehension. Here, they are hand held and guided towards the right path to continue their education, until they graduate with flying colors. The girls who enroll for their higher education are also signed up for a basic training course in Computer education, where they are introduced to the digital world through screen reading software. Apart from Computer training, the girls are also introduced to the world of Orientation and Mobility. This aims to facilitate independent and efficient movement and functioning in day to day areas of life. This training enables the visually impaired persons to navigate and move around safely in private and public places. Also included during their association with Mitra Jyothi are Spoken English classes that enable the students to increase a sense of inclusion among the general public; Life Skills programs that enable and empower students to manage their physical and psychological needs in an efficient manner; Basic home management skills from identification of grains and spices to cooking safely with fire and Sessions on reproductive health, personal safety and Sex education.

To quote some of our beneficiaries of the Higher Education Program, “We could go to college and start dreaming about a career and socio-economic security only because of Mitra Jyothi. There are many children like us who are not even getting opportunities to go for primary education. Many girls, who are blind, are not even allowed to step out of the home as their parents are anxious about their security. In my life, I wish to live for the upliftment of such children, for which I shall study hard and achieve a position that will help me complete my wish.”

At Mitra Jyothi, students are also given accessible educational and non-educational material; prepared at the Talking Book Library and the Braille Press, both, prestigious programs of the institution, so that the process of learning is not impeded. Students under the Higher Education Program at Mitra Jyothi are given an opportunity to explore mainstream education by providing them with food and accommodation as well during the entire course. They are given wings to fly and children, who were otherwise drowned in a morose world, are now envisioning a beautiful future ahead, with a secure job and socio economic security, amongst other things.