The Gift of Braille

FRI FEBRUARY 09, 2024: KINGSTON, JAMAICA – On Friday, February 9, 2024, a significant milestone was reached as the Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Children, Jamaica’s sole institution for the Blind and visually impaired children.

The school received 100 Braille machines, marking the culmination of the "Follow the Trail, Invest in Braille" fundraising campaign. This initiative, a collaboration between Digicel Foundation and The Open Door Jamaica Foundation, aimed to enhance literacy and educational access for blind and visually impaired students.

The handover ceremony was attended by notable figures such as Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, and Permanent Secretary Mrs. Colette Roberts Risden, alongside Principal Mr. Iyeke Erharuyi and a gathering of enthusiastic students, teachers, and parents.

CEO of Digicel Foundation, Charmaine Daniels, in reflecting on the campaign's origins, shared, “In April 2023, we visited the school to donate three Braille machines but learnt, that of the 132 students enrolled at the school at that time, there were only 26 working Braille machines.”

Ms Daniels continued, “The Principal’s words also resonated deeply with us. He said, "A Braille machine to a blind child is like a pen and paper to a sighted child." That statement was a wake-up call that we could not ignore. And so, the "Follow the Trail, Invest in Braille" campaign was created to provide 50 Braille machines to the School for the Blind. Initially, we had planned to donate 50 machines, but the scope of the campaign doubled with the partnership of the Open Door Jamaica Foundation.”

Ms. Daniels expressed gratitude to the sponsors and the Salvation Army for their support.

In her address, Minister Williams praised the school and emphasised the Ministry's commitment to inclusive education. “The Salvation Army School for the Blind is undeniably a beacon of hope, providing not just education but also ensuring support to blind and visually impaired students,” the Minister said.

Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid, Executive Director of the Open Door Jamaica Foundation shared words of encouragement with the students, highlighting the importance of literacy and collaboration.

More than 30 sponsors across the island participated in the campaign to procure the braille machines. The sponsors included CSG Systems International; e-Learning Jamaica; Stewart’s Automotive Group; NCB Foundation; Sandals Foundation; JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation; PricewaterhouseCoopers; Vashi Khemlani Foundation; The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation; Supreme Ventures Foundation; Hospiten; JPS Foundation; GraceKennedy Group; Couples Resorts Jamaica; Imperial Optical Jamaica; Excelsior; Holiday Snacks; Tango’s Entertainment Production; Dutch Construction; Forward Step Foundation; ARATEL Engineering; Modern Rubber Stamps Manufacturers Ltd.; Optical Elements; Konnexx Services Ltd.; Barita Foundation; VM Foundation; Amber Connect Jamaica; Phoenix Vision Centre; Island Promotion & Distribution Co. Ltd.; Inami Management Services; First Communications Ltd; Frank O'Carroll; Eulanda Allie; Heather Seixas; Pia Baker; Hon. Sheryl Lee Ralph, OJ; PROComm; Main Event Entertainment Group Ltd.; Dora Valladares; Kristalle Chin; Elon Parkinson and Colin Alcott.