A lot of friends, through good intent, want to mark an occasion (a loved one's passing on anniversary, a birthday, an auspicious event) at an orphanage or blind school.
Many corporates also approach us for celebrating Volunteering Day or week at a Blind School.
This post is for all such audience.
The post is being written as a result of a similar discussion on a parenting group. Thank you for the prompt.
Plan
1. Reach out to a blind school near you. Ask them what volunteering and sponsoring options they have. Most will have a meal sponsorship. If you choose this, ask for a date that is available and choose your menu (most schools have menu options for donors to choose).
2. Ask the school what the expected conduct is. Are you allowed to serve? Are you allowed to freely interact or do you wait? Can you eat with them? How many people can visit?
3. Prepare your visitors. You are not going there to teach, to mentor, or to help. You are going there to learn. It can be an inspirational visit. Think about the things you want to learn. Is it Braille? How to walk and go up or down stairs with eyes closed? How to eat without looking at the plate (a skill that TV watching eaters will find useful)?
4. If you are a corporate, please don't ask for an opportunity to teach or do entertainment. Most good schools have a schedule for the students. Most corporate employee are NOT trained on special education and therefore are NOT qualified to "teach" anything. You can have an experience sharing session esp in areas where there is interest. It can be sections like - What does a work day look like for you? What kind of skills are needed to do this work? What kind of people should aspire to do your work?
On the Day
1. Arrive on time. Preferably, a little earlier.
2. Please ensure that you stick to the numbers invited and the conduct that the school has recommended.
3. Have genuine conversations. The stories of the people you are interacting with are inspirational. Some of them were abandoned as children. Some of them found out late in life that they are going to lose their sight. A conversation with these students is likely to be a masterclass in self-motivation. Having said that, please understand that this is their "normal", so it may not be a good idea to tell them how strong they are repeatedly (once is enough). Do ask questions about everyday things like what do you do in ur free time, what kind of music do u listen to?
4. Some conversation topics to avoid are - Who do you have at home? When did you lose your sight? How do you feel about losing your sight? Can I help you in any way?
5. As the event ends, thank the school for having you. If you have carried gifts, please give them as you would give them to a friend.
After
If you would like to relive the memory again and again, do write how you felt, and keep it in a place that you can read again.
