Tibet ´ s (almost) forgotten children - How a blind person made blind children read Sibylle K. Scholtz, Gerd U. Auffarth

1. no financial interests Introduction Tibet´s (almost) forgotten children - How a blind person made blind children read Sibylle K. Scholtz, Gerd U. Auffarth International Vision Correction Research Centre (IVCRC), Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Germany About 90% of the blind live in developing countries. 90% of blind children in developing countries have no access to education. As Tibetans had had no script for the blind Sabriye Tenberken developed this and got it accepted. By this and by founding “Braille without Borders” (BwB) she provided education to blind people in Tibet and India to make self-determined future available for them. Blind children in front of of Potala Palace, Lhasa (Tibet)1

2. Sabriye Tenberken and “Braille without Borders” Before founding the project, blind children of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) did not have access to education. They led a life on the fringe of society with few chances of integration. According to official statistics 30.000 of the 2.5 million inhabitants of TAR are blind or highly visually impaired. Compared to most areas in the world this is well above the average ratio. The reasons for visual impairment or blindness are both climatic and hygienic: dust, wind, high ultra-violet light radiation, soot in houses caused by heating with coal and/or yak dung, and lack of Vitamin A at an early age. Tibet Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)13

3. Sabriye Tenberken and “Braille without Borders” Inadequate medical care plays a great role also, cataracts are widespread. Indeed governmental and private organizations have set up eye-camps where medical surgery is performed. However, there is a large group of blind people that can't be helped this way. For this group the „Rehabilitation and Training Centre for the blind“ was established. Blind children in Tibet1 In summer 1997 German Sabriye Tenberken, blind herself, travelled within the TAR to investigate the possibility of providing training for Tibetan blind and visually impaired people. Sabriye Tenberken and Paul Kronenberg, founders of “Braille without Borders”1

4. Sabriye Tenberken and “Braille without Borders” Related to her studies of Tibetology Sabriye developed a Tibetan Braille script. This script for the blind was submitted for close examination to an eminent Tibetan scholar, who estimated it to be easy to understand, as well as simple and easy to learn. Tibetan Braille script invented by Sabriye Tenberken1 As Tibetans until then had had no script for the blind, Sabriye was allowed to teach the blind Tibetans how to use the script. Logo “Braille without Borders”1

5. Sabriye Tenberken and “Braille without Borders” Sabriye realised there were no programs educating and rehabilitating blind people within the TAR. She then founded the present project. Class using Tibetan Braille script1 Child using Tibetan Braille script1 For the start of her project she received help from a local school in Lhasa which provided  the room. A local counterpart took care of the official paperwork. Sabriye teaching1

6. Sabriye Tenberken and “Braille without Borders” In May 1998 Sabriye Tenberken and Paul Kronenberg left Europe to establish the Rehabilitation and Training Centre for the Blind in Tibet, starting with an elementary school. Six children were gathered from different villages to join the school. The children came from different parts of TAR and had to get used to each other's dialects. A local teacher was found and within a couple of days they were instructed in Sabriye´s Tibetan Braille script. Sabriye teaching1

7. Conclusions In 1997 Sabriye Tenberken, blind herself, investigated in Tibet Autonomous Region the possibility of providing education for Tibetan blind and visually impaired people. As Tibetans until then had had no script for the blind she developed this and got it accepted. In May 1998 she left Europe to establish the “Rehabilitation and Training Centre for the Blind, Tibet”, starting with the preparatory school for elementary school children. After establishing the school in Tibet BwB got active in India as well. In 2009 BwB founded the „International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs” (IISE) in Kerala. By a one year's course IISE will train young adults how to establish their own social projects. The institute will be run by a national and international team of highly qualified facilitators.

8. Conclusions For more than 10 years “Braille Without Borders” is successfully engaged in establishing education for the blind in Tibet and since 2009 in India as well. This way self-integration of blind people is supported very well where disabled people are widely excluded from education and social life. Sabriye Tenberken is one more good example of how the best humanitarian work is often founded by determined individuals with a dream! Sabriye Tenberken, Mein siebtes Jahr: Die blinden Kinder von Tibet14 References [1]http://www.braillewithoutborders.org, [2]Tenberken, S., My path leads to Tibet, New York, 2003, [3]Close personal contact to Braille without Borders, [4]Scholtz, S., Tibets vergessene Kinder, DOZ, 8/2008, [5]Scholtz, S., Tibets vergesse blinde Kinder, Ophthalmologische Nachrichten, 8/2008, [6]http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/Laenderinformationen/China/Innenpolitik.html, [7]http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2008/080316-BM-Tibet.html, [8]http://www.tibet.net/en/index.php, [9]http://www.tibet.net/en/index.php, [10]http://www.tibet.net/en/index.php, [11] http://www.gfbv.de/land.php?id=15, [12] http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet, [13]http://earth.google.com/intl/de, [14] Tenberken, S., Mein siebtes Jahr: Die blinden Kinder von Tibet, Droemer/Knaur; Auflage: 1 (1. März 2008). More information: Förderkreis Blindenzentrum Tibet e.V., Im Aurel 34, 53913 Swisttal-Morenhoven, Tel.: +49 - 2226 – 913 403, Fax: +49 – 2226 - 913 404, E-Mail: BLZtib@t-onlinde.de, www.blinden-zentrum-tibet.de