Graduation From a Blind and Disabled Training Program

We do a lot of work with NRSD, an organization that helps disabled and disadvantaged people gain skills that make their lives better. Two of the programs that they run are sewing/knitting classes and computer classes. One of the computer classes teaches blind people how to use a computer. We were trained in this program prior to coming on our mission.  We attended a graduation ceremony for these programs here in Kathmandu last week. There are many touching and some heroic stories of people overcoming vast disadvantage and striving for a better future. Here are a few of them.

From 1996 to 2006, a revolution was fought in Nepal. The rebels were Maoists who were fighting to depose the monarchy. In the above picture you see a young woman in a yellow coat. She was a member of the Maoist army. At age 13, she was wounded by government forces in a battle. She has significant residual physical problems from those injuries. She is graduating from the sewing program. Behind her, in a blue blazer, is a member of Nepal's parliament.  The MP has just handed the graduation certificate to the young woman. The MP had a husband who was assassinated by the Maoist rebels. It has been ten years since the revolution was ended by the abdication of the king.  On this day, these two remarkable women put aside the past to celebrate the future. 

This picture shows a blind girl that has completed her computer training. This is a 6-month long course that teaches blind people to use their ears instead of their eyes to operate a computer. The program is called JAWS. The computer provides auditory feedback to the blind operator to do everything from compose a word document to access a web site.  This young woman has overcome obstacles that people in the United States can't even imagine. 

This young woman was our favorite. She has graduated from the sewing program. She suffered terrible burns from a kerosene explosion. Many Nepali households use kerosene for cooking and heating their homes. The fire did a lot of damage to her hands. In spite of these injuries she was able to pass the sewing curriculum and gain her certificate. When we asked her what she was planning on doing next she said she was working for an NGO (non-government organization) and enrolled in a fashion design school. She has completed her basic course and has started the advanced course.  Again, here is a young person who is overcoming problems that are much greater than almost anything that faces even the most disadvantaged American. She is a superhero!!