’Guiding Stars’ - A Unique Treasure Hunt for the Blind on Nov 14
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangalore, October 23, 2010: Mangalore Coastal Round Table and Mangalore Ladies Circle in association with Roman and Catherine School for the Blind and Baikampady Vidyarthi Sangha have announced plans to organizing ‘Guiding Stars’, a unique event to demonstrate the extraordinary capabilities of blind people. The ‘Guiding Stars’ Treasure Hunt for the Blind on Children’s Day, November 14th, 2010 is a first of its kind event in Mangalore and will highlight blind persons as worthy citizens of the community, say the organizers.
“Contrary to popular belief, the blind are exceptionally gifted people. A blind person, when suitably trained, can be taught to perform any normal human activity – even cooking and stitching - and be empowered to live a completely independent, productive and dignified life,” says Preethi Pinto, of Mangalore Ladies Circle who is co-ordinating the event. “The main roadblock in preventing integration of blind persons in the main stream of society is sadly not the absence of facilities, but rather the lack of awareness and acceptance of the sighted masses. ‘Guiding Stars’ – a Unique Treasure Hunt is a step forward in opening the eyes of the public and foster communication and interaction leading to acceptance.”
‘Guiding Stars’ – a Unique Treasure Hunt
‘Guiding Stars’ Treasure Hunt for the Blind is a unique sporting cum fund raising event involving a sighted driver and a blind navigator. The rally tests the driver’s skills as per Time, Speed and Distance Measurements. However the entire route is provided in Braille – the script used by blind people to read and write. This creates an exceptional situation where the sighted driver is totally dependent on the blind navigator who has to interpret the route to him using the directions provided in the Braille script. It creates an environment where people get to remove their inhibitions and communicate with each other.
Though this is the first such event in Mangalore, the Round Table fraternity of Ahmedabad has been successfully conducting a similar event every year for the past 13 years. Their effort has received wide spread media coverage in national channels like DD News, CNN IBN, Zee News, NDTV, Aaj Tak and in all major newspapers.
The organizers plan to similarly invite all mainstream media organizations to cover this event and help us to spread awareness that Braille is the best medium of communication and encourage blind children to go to school, thus fulfilling the organization’s motto of ‘Freedom through Education’. Alongside, they shall also promote ‘Mangalore’ as one of the best cities to live in – highlighting its heritage, vibrancy and good people. About 100 cars are expected to participate in this rally.
Makkala Mela (Children’s Festival)
‘Guiding Stars’ Treasure Hunt for the Blind will culminate at Makkala Mela (Children’s Festival) which is a full day Mela for kids being organized at Panambur Beach by Baikampady Vidyarthi Sangha, an active youth group.
The Panambur Beach, which is known for its cleanliness and safety, is the most famous beach of Mangalore and Makkala Mela is expected to attract more than 20000 people. The Children’s Festival will include the following events at the Beach
· Painting Competition for the Children
· Sand Sculpture Competition for the Family
· Preparing of Kites
· Beach Games(Running, Throwing of the Sand Balls, Breaking the Pot, Dog & the Bone, Ice Cream eating)
· Group Singing Competition
· Group Dance Competition
· Food Festival
Appeal for Sponsorship
‘Guiding Stars’ Treasure Hunt for the Blind is both an awareness and a fundraising event. The organizers have invited sponsorships which will not only help them to meet the organizing expenses, but also to raise surplus amount to equip the Roman and Catherine Lobo School for the Blind with a software called ‘Josh’ which helps the blind to learn English and Hindi and fund the Construction of Multi Gym + Community Hall at Baikampady to promote sports and good health among the Rural youth.
Various sponsorship avenues like Title Sponsor (Rs. 1 lac), Event Main Sponsor (Rs.50,000), Event Co Sponsor (Rs. 25,000), Team Sponsor (Rs. 10,000/- per team), Logistics (Rs. 20,000), Refreshments (Rs. 20,000), Banner Sponsors (Rs. 10,000 / Rs. 5000) are available for sponsors to participate in this event. In kind gifts / vouchers for winners and participants are also accepted.
About the Organizers
Mangalore Coastal Round Table 190 and Mangalore Ladies Circle 82 are international organizations of non-political and non-sectarian young men and women respectively, between the age group of 18 to 40. Their aim is to promote service, fellowship and goodwill among people. Their national project is ‘Freedom through Education’ with a mission to educate one million children. Of this, half a million children are educated and they are associating with about 1250 schools educating approximately 700,000 underprivileged children at a cost of Rs. 80 crore.
Roman and Catherine School for the Blind was established through the generosity of its expatriate sponsors, Roman and Catherine Lobo. Since 2009, it has been managed by Seva Bharati, a non-profit charitable society, which also runs the Chethana School for Disabled Children and has several community outreach programmes aimed at benefitting people belonging to the underprivileged sections of society.
Baikampady Vidyarthi Sangha is a youth organization established in the year 1955 and it has the credit of having produced many sports personalities from this rural area who have represented the state and our country in the past. The members of Vidyarthi Sangha have won many prizes in the cultural competitions apart from winning trophies in sports. The Sangha has been paying the insurance premium of all the Children studying in the Government High School and the Higher Primary School in the Village every year and also has been financially assisting the poor students for their education.
For Further Details Contact:
* Arjun Pinto, Chairman, Mangalore Round Table (Mobile: 98861-04554)
* Preethi Pinto, Chairperson, Mangalore Ladies Circle (Mobile: 78994-91455)
* Yatish Bykampady, Baikampady Vidyarthi Sangha (Mobile: 93422-35570)