|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|  | |
|
|
|
|||
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sense International (India) has won a $100,000 award from the STARS Foundation. The award will assist the deafblind charity in its work throughout India. The charity was chosen for an Education Award because of its partnership approach. It set up South Asia’s first teacher training and mentoring course in deafblindness (sight and hearing loss). The Ahmedabad based charity already reaches 27,000 deafblind people in India and works with 37 partners in 19 states. The award will mean it can continue its programmes with some of the most vulnerable children in India. Its goal is to reach 70,000 deafblind people by 2017. Akhil Paul, Director of Sense International (India) said “For more than ten years Sense International (India) has been empowering deafblind people in India. To be one of just six organisations in the world to receive this award is a real honour and demonstrates our track record for transforming deafblind people’s lives. We are deeply grateful to The STARS Foundation for the recognition but most of all it will help us to reach thousands more people and continue our campaigning work in the region.” Muna Wehbe, Chief Executive of the STARS Foundation said: “Sense International (India) delivers truly unique services to children who without support would be isolated from mainstream society. Through its work with partners, the organisation responds to real needs, with tangible and effective programmes being provided to some of the most vulnerable children in the country.”
The "4th HSBC Indo- British Award" was instituted in 1997, to commemorate India's 50 years of Independence. The Award is to be given alternately in India to an Indian individual, company, or NGO who have furthered Indo - British relations. This year, in addition to considering those who have contributed to the improvement of Indo-British trade and business relations, HSBC widened its scope to also recognise outstanding contributions in the community. Mr. Akhil Paul, Director of Sense International (India) has been awarded the "4th HSBC Indo- British Award" in the Community Category for his exemplary contribution to the field of deafblindness and thus furthering Indo- British relations. The selection Committee consisted of Sir Rob Young, British High Commissioner to India, Anil Dharkar, social commentator and journalist and Niall S. K. Booker, CEO, HSBC India. Sense International (India) is an organisation that was set up in 1997 to support the development of education of deafblind children throughout the country. Deafblindness is a unique disability - a combination of visual and hearing impairments. Though the degree of deafness or blindness varies, the combination of dual sensory loss gives persons unique problems with their communication, mobility and their ability to access information. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 deafblind people in India. This is a significant group of our society who are receiving virtually no educational stimulation at all. Most of these children live in total isolation and many others are wrongly diagnosed. This is largely because there is little awareness of this disability and there is a severe shortage of specialist teachers in India. With the encouraging support of national and International donors, Sense International (India) has succeeded in sensitising local partner organisations throughout the country to develop over 25 rural and urban programmes for deafblind people in 13 states of India. The Event:
Click for HSBC Indo-British Award Acceptance Speech of Akhil Registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950.
|
