students

"We walk by Faith, Not by Sight" - 2 Cor.5:7

The age of our students varies between 18 to 28, both young men and young women. The maximum number we can teach is 14 and our present accommodation can only cater for 6 boys and 6 girls at the most. Other students attend daily from outside.

Because most of our students come from rural farms and villages in Karnataka, Andra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, we provide accommodation and meals in two flats with a housemother to care for them. This is all offered free of charge, but students are expected to help with some of the basic jobs like cleaning the floors, washing their food vessels, preparing some of the food and shopping at local stores. They each do their own personal washing and generally help to keep everywhere clean and tidy.

A happy family atmosphere is encouraged and we occasionally indulge in outings, picnics and birthday celebrations. It is always sad to say ‘goodbye’, as we see them into the next stage of their lives.
Here are some portraits and details of our present ‘family’.

Nalini listening to the Jaws ‘speaking’ software which guides her through use of the computer. Nalini lost her sight after an accident in 1998, while traveling on a bus a suitcase fell on her head and the repercussions from this caused her loss of sight. She is a very capable young lady, she already has an MA in English Literature so we expect at the end of her Course, having added Computer skills to her abilities, she will be able to find a suitable job She is also a born organizer and has been very much involved with all the functions at B.R.C.V. during her year with us.

On 24th December 2009 we held a function and the students performed in different ways. Here we have Sadhanandan singing for us. Sadhanandan only joined us in October so is at the beginning of his studies. He has never used a computer so has a lot to learn. He knows Kannada Braille so now has to learn English Braille and will do this through the RNIB Fingerprint Course we use at Bartimaeus. He will also be learning spoken English.

Here we have Rajalakshmi and Shivu Mallu performing a moral skit in English during our function on 24th December, 2009. Rajalakshmi comes from Madikeri, she is a quiet hardworking young lady, always to be found at the computer during the periods set aside for homework after office hours. She and Shivu Mallu also enjoy playing chess in their spare time. Shivu Mallu has a little sight. He is a bright and very friendly person always ready to give a helping hand. During the spoken English period he is eager to join in the discussion and always has plenty to say. Both are half way through their Course and we hope at the end they will have added to their skills empowering them to go forward as confident and self-assured members of society.

Sri Devi all dressed up ready to join in the dancing during our celebrations on 24th December 2009. Sri Devi has an hours journey each morning and evening to attend our classes, which means getting up around 5.30am in order to catch her bus by 7.30am to be here for 9am. She is working very hard learning the skills we offer in order to widen her horizons for future job possibilities. She is proving a very capable student and is doing well with her English and Computer studies. We feel sure that when her Course is completed her studies at Bartimaeus will have given her the confidence and ability to gain suitable employment.

Krishna joined us in November 2009, he is a very bright fellow and is very keen to learn. Although he has low vision he is determined to master Braille so that if his sight fails he will still be able to read, he is an avid reader. Whenever you look for him he is reading something and makes full use of the allocated periods for homework. He wakes early to do his yoga exercises and once his morning bathing is over and before breakfast he is to be found working at some aspect of his studies. We feel sure that at the end of his Course he will be ready to find some fulfilling and worthwhile work. He also has a great sense of humour and did a Bollywood style dance at our function on the 24th December 2009.

Umesh, from Hyderabad, is listening to a story in English and following it in Braille. Once the students have read Fingerprint Vol.7 they then go on to free reading. Listening to the stories, following in Braille and then Brailling out answers to questions on the book they have read/heard. We have built up a considerable Library, including an English/Kannada Dictionary and all are encouraged to read whenever they have any free time.

	Nalini listening to the Jaws ‘speaking’ software which guides her through use of the computer. Nalini lost her sight after an accident in 1998, while traveling on a bus a suitcase fell on her head and the repercussions from this caused her loss of sight. She is a very capable young lady, she already has an MA in English Literature so we expect at the end of her Course, having added Computer skills to her abilities, she will be able to find a suitable job She is also a born organizer and has been very much involved with all the functions at B.R.C.V. during her year with us.
	On 24th December 2009 we held a function and the students performed in different ways. Here we have Sadhanandan singing for us. Sadhanandan only joined us in October so is at the beginning of his studies. He has never used a computer so has a lot to learn. He knows Kannada Braille so now has to learn English Braille and will do this through the RNIB Fingerprint Course we use at Bartimaeus. He will also be learning spoken English.
	Here we have Rajalakshmi and Shivu Mallu performing a moral skit in English during our function on 24th December, 2009. Rajalakshmi comes from Madikeri, she is a quiet hardworking young lady, always to be found at the computer during the periods set aside for homework after office hours. She and Shivu Mallu also enjoy playing chess in their spare time. Shivu Mallu has a little sight. He is a bright and very friendly person always ready to give a helping hand. During the spoken English period he is eager to join in the discussion and always has plenty to say. Both are half way through their Course and we hope at the end they will have added to their skills empowering them to go forward as confident and self-assured members of society.
	Sri Devi all dressed up ready to join in the dancing during our celebrations on 24th December 2009. Sri Devi has an hours journey each morning and evening to attend our classes, which means getting up around 5.30am in order to catch her bus by 7.30am to be here for 9am. She is working very hard learning the skills we offer in order to widen her horizons for future job possibilities. She is proving a very capable student and is doing well with her English and Computer studies. We feel sure that when her Course is completed her studies at Bartimaeus will have given her the confidence and ability to gain suitable employment.
	Krishna joined us in November 2009, he is a very bright fellow and is very keen to learn. Although he has low vision he is determined to master Braille so that if his sight fails he will still be able to read, he is an avid reader. Whenever you look for him he is reading something and makes full use of the allocated periods for homework. He wakes early to do his yoga exercises and once his morning bathing is over and before breakfast he is to be found working at some aspect of his studies. We feel sure that at the end of his Course he will be ready to find some fulfilling and worthwhile work. He also has a great sense of humour and did a Bollywood style dance at our function on the 24th December 2009.
	Umesh, from Hyderabad, is listening to a story in English and following it in Braille. Once the students have read Fingerprint Vol.7 they then go on to free reading. Listening to the stories, following in Braille and then Brailling out answers to questions on the book they have read/heard. We have built up a considerable Library, including an English/Kannada Dictionary and all are encouraged to read whenever they have any free time.