Scholarships to
children of differently-abled
Bengaluru: Dhyana Jyothi Trust, a Carmelite NGO
run by the Carmelite Fathers, distributed
scholarships to the children of visually
impaired parents under the banner 'Carmel Vision
for Future' in Bengaluru. Children of twenty
visually impaired parents were provided
scholarships here on Thursday May 16, 2019.
Addressing the audience, Rev Fr Charles Serrao,
OCD, the Provincial Superior of the Carmelites
of Karnataka – Goa Province said, “Physical
blindness is a sad reality of human life. But if
one is determined in life, he or she can make
his or her life filled with light and life for
themselves and for others. Education is one of
such means to eradicate the blindness of
ignorance which will brighten one’s life and
future.”
Many of the parents of the beneficiaries are
good at playing piano and leading prayer
service.
While appreciating the desire of the parents who
are blind, to educate their children he called
upon the beneficiaries to study hard and
actualize the dream of their parents.
Fr Stifan Perera OCD, director of the Trust and
Dhanavana Publications Bengaluru said,
“Education to the children especially to the
parents of blind is a Carmelite venture in
Bengaluru. Though the parents are blind, they
have a great desire to educate their children.
Carmelite priests have taken up this unique
initiative with the help of the donors and
benefactors.”
Nelly Pichardo, coordinator of ‘Carmel Vision
for Future’ said, “Parents are not only blind,
they are also poor. Hence, they cannot afford to
educate their children. On the contrary,
children are highly talented and fare very well
in their studies. Hence, we feel it is our
responsibility to lend them a helping hand.”
Some of the parents are totally blind while some
are partially blind. While it is difficult to
earn their daily bread itself, they find it very
hard to educate their children.
Dhyna Jyothi Trust, is a charitable trust by the
Carmelite priests. Alongside charitable works,
the trust takes up printing religious and social
literature.
Dhyana Jyothi Trust launched ‘Vision for Future’
in the year 2014. It is a project that strives
to educate the children of the visually impaired
parents who believe that education in various
forms and timely assistance to their children
can empower them. The beneficiaries have been
selected after verification that they have no
other regular means of support.