Alwar, Sep 25: Sightsavers India and TBZ have partnered to expand access to education for children with visual impairment in Alwar district, Rajasthan.
With TBZ as the corporate partner and Sightsavers India implementing the project, it will strengthen educational opportunities for children with visual impairment enrolled in government schools, including children with blindness and low vision.
Over a period of eight months, the project will directly support 95 children with visual impairment through assistive devices, Information and Communication Technology-based learning support, low-vision devices, accessible learning resources, Braille training and skill-enhancement interventions.
The initiative will also strengthen the support system around children. Nine Social Animators, along with parents and family members, will be trained to help children with visual impairment participate more effectively in education and build greater independence.
The project will build on Sightsavers India’s ongoing Inclusive Education Programme in Alwar and support fresher and refresher training programmes through the Block Resource Centre. It will also work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen capacity and create a more enabling environment for inclusive education.
A key focus will be the Plus Curriculum, which equips children with visual impairment with additional skills required to access education effectively. This will be complemented by ICT-based learning, assistive technology, low-vision support and individualised educational interventions.
The project also aims to engage families and communities so that children receive continued encouragement and support beyond the classroom.
RN Mohanty, CEO, Sightsavers India, said,
“Inclusive education is about ensuring that every child has the skills, tools and support needed to learn, participate and realise their potential. Through Sightsavers India’s Inclusive Education Programme, we work closely with government education systems, families and communities to create an environment where children with visual impairment can thrive. We are pleased to have TBZ support this initiative in Alwar, helping us extend critical assistive technology, learning resources and skill development to more children.”
Binaisha Zaveri, Whole-time Director, Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Limited, said,
"Every child should be able to learn in the same classroom as their friends. For a child with visual impairment, that depends on having the right tools and the right support. What we value most in Sightsavers India's approach is that it also trains parents and Social Animators and works through the local school system, so the support stays with the child after the project ends. For more than 160 years, TBZ has been part of the most important moments in a family's life, and we are glad to stand with these families as their children learn with more confidence and independence.”
The project contributes to Sightsavers India’s broader goal of enabling children with disabilities up to the age of 18 to access quality education in an inclusive environment, with children with visual impairment receiving the specialised skills and support required for their education.
Through the initiative, Sightsavers India and TBZ aim to demonstrate how strong corporate partnerships can complement inclusive education efforts and help create meaningful, long-term opportunities for children with visual impairment.