The last year has seen a number of changes at Bartimaeus in staff and students. At the present moment our Chairman, Mike Hubbard and his wife Anne are back in the UK where they continue to work ceaselessly on our behalf, they hope to return around March/April 2010. Reg (Director) and Veronica (Administrator) have returned for a further six month stay. There is much to do as Reg is involved with the curriculum development and planning and Veronica will be kept busy trying to raise funds and find suitable property/land in preparation for a possible move on or before October 2010.

It is increasingly evident that the reputation of the work already done by our dedicated staff is being broadcast far and wide and the Waiting List of students eager to join the Courses we offer grows by the day. Add to this the fame of the care and food provided at our hostel. Our students are loathe to leave us!

We are still in the same building but are finding it very cramped as our activities expand and we try and squeeze in more students! The Rental Agreement of this present Office/Accomodation block expires in November 2010 so before that date we need to have plans in hand for the next stage of our development. We have three options: 1st. To construct a purpose-built Teaching Centre with all the necessary hostel and staffing accommodation on one site, approx. cost Rs. 200,00,000. 2nd: Leasing larger premises again at an approx. costof Rs. 50,000,00. Leasing has the advantage over Renting in that the money paid is returned at the end of the Agreement period. 3rd: Rental and this would be in the region of Rs. 50,000/- monthly.

We now have a fast growing Braille Library, a library of Cassettes and a Games section. All these prove very useful during the times when we have no electricity and the back-up battery has been drained.

Rani, who is herself blind, and taught Braille, left us to get married and also tend for her sick mother, who has since died. We have taken, on a three month trial, one of our students, Varalakshmi, who is partially sighted, to help with overseeing the work taking place in the Computer Room.

Reg, has learned to read Braille as a non-sighted person, and is now training our two sighted members of staff to learn Braille (by sight) as it is considered necessary to have a sighted person to help with the teaching of Braille and oversee the use of the Perkins Brailling machines. Nirmala Thomas remains our main teacher of Braille and she works very hard with everyone who comes under her care.

We know that we are not ‘saved’ by works, but we are expected as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ to ‘occupy’ until he comes, using our time and all we have, to at least give that ‘cup of cold water’ and to show kindness to those who are in need.

So we once again make our Appeal on behalf of Bartimaeus and the students in our care. All this to God’s glory alone.

Of the students who have recently left us we are happy to say that all have been able to find a positive place in society. Most have gone on to further education, either to do their Pre-University Course (PUC) or a Degree Course. We hear from them regularly and they often visit us at weekends.

	Siddu during his Brailler practice. One student in particular, Siddu, was placed on a Medical Transcription Course where he gained 99 marks out of 100 at his first Test and his Tutor’s comments were: “99 –Wonderful job. This is unbelievable. Keep it up. If you can improve a little more on spellings, you can work wonders. Congratulations.” When Siddu joined us he knew only a little English and had never ‘seen’ a computer. At the end of 1 year with us he had learned enough to be accepted on this sought after Course proving to all, that with the help of our dedicated staff he was able to achieve so much.
	Prakash At the opposite end of the scale is Prakash, a very cheerful, happy fellow. He was not capable of learning the computer, but became proficient in Braille and learned much from the mobility training provided by Thomas. He became completely independent getting around without a problem, and using local transport. We were able to find him work at a clothing factory where he is very happy. The Manager who employed him said so long as he was independent and did not need the services of others to take him around he was prepared to give him a trial. He passed with flying colours and has since been given a rise in salary and employed on a permanent basis. He now checks 100 shirts an hour.
	Shivu These are a few words from an e-mail Shivu sent us as he was about to finish his course. “ I am very pleased and very proud to remember my one year experience in this institute. Before I came I was very dull and weak about spoken English, mobility and other activities. I would like to pray to God to give more and more strength and energy to those who all working and struggling day and night to help blind people. Really the staff have taught me patiently and kindly so it was possible for me to learn many things. I came to my classes with a happy spirit. In hostel we are all like family with lots of fun during free time. I am heartfully thankful for all your encouragement and you are doing a great job for the blind and this society. Now I am very sad to leave. Wherever I go I never forget this institute. I am always very thankful and grateful for this institute.

We, in turn, are grateful to all who have supported this work so far and appeal to you to broadcast to others friends, family and colleagues the work that is being done for these poor disadvantaged boys and girls from the rural areas of India that, by their generosity, they too can share in this rewarding work. Details of where to send donations are attached and on the web page.