Everybody has a dream and for Ann Moideen of the Ann Foundation, a non profit organization in New York, it was to work in rural areas in India where she could help disabled people get the type of care that was normally only available to people who lived in big cities. Married to a US surgeon, she traveled to the country and soon found herself as a volunteer at the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults in New York. Here Ann got a chance to meet and work with children who amazed her with their abilities. This reinforced her dream to help disabled children in India.
The Ann Foundation currently works with schools and organizations in India, Guyana, and Africa. Their focus is to provide the disabled children with an opportunity to gain the lifelong gift of education. It is also founded on the belief that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and taking control of one's own life.
Lokvani had a conversation with Ann Moideen and another volunteer, Nomita Das of the Foundation
- Give us an idea about the various programs of the foundation?
- The Ann Foundation is based on the objective of running mission trips to developing countries to provide the technical know-how required to initiate and run training workshops and camps in the areas of health, education and employment generation for disadvantaged children and youth.
The services for the blind and physically impaired organized by the Ann Foundation are:
- Distribution and training in the use of assistive software for the acquisition of IT skills
- Distribution of training and educational material
- Training in vocational skills like medical transcription to equip children and youth with the necessary skills to be gainfully employed
- Distribution of essential drugs and vitamins
- Distribution of assistive technologies and tools like hearing aids and wheelchairs
- Lobbying and liaison with government officials to improve and expand education and training opportunities for children
- Promoting a continuing concern for the welfare and future of the disabled through advocacy, care missions, resource generation and establishment of beneficial programs and projects
- What has been some of your achievements
- A few notable milestones:
- In 1999, a team of Canadian audiologists conducted a training workshop under the auspices of The Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu.
- The same year, workshops were conducted for the hearing impaired in Bangalore.
- in 1999 again, an ICT training project was implemented at Loyola College, Chennai demonstrating the usage of assistive technologies
- In 2005 training was provided to blind students from The Mercy Home, Dharmapuri.
- In 2005, CEO Ann Foundation, Ms. Ann Moideen met with the Honorable President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam Azad, to discuss and garner support on educational and employment opportunities for disadvantaged children
- What is the Foundation upcoming mission? Could you highlight on some of the programs that will be done in India?
In December 2005 through January 2006, the Ann Foundation is embarking on one of its most exciting projects. An international team consisting of technology experts, doctors and teachers from the Ann Foundation will travel to India for the purpose of conducting training workshops and to help the Diocese of Verapoly to set up a National Center for the Blind and the Deaf. Two workshops will be conducted, one in Chennai and one in Cochin.
The team will be conducting computer training, demonstration of how the blind can be taught medical transcription work, orientation and mobility skills, and discussion of how to transition trainees from the classroom into the work-place.
Our team consists of the following personnel:
- Ms. Ann Moideen, CEO Ann Foundation
- Mr. Lauro Purcil, Philippines, Vice-president Sectoral Council, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Philippines. He will be demonstrating how The Philippines are working toward training those who are blind to do Medical Transcription work.
- Dr. Aura Enrile, professor Department of Language and Literature, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Makati. She will be demonstrating the use of the white cane which enables a person who is blind to walk safely on streets and in the work-place.
Mr. Kevin A. Popplewell, Rochester, NY, has worked in IT for over twenty years. He also possesses a business degree. He will be discussing methods for "transitioning" trainees from the classroom to the work-place.
She will be doing the computer training in the adaptive software for the computers.
- Technology seems to be a major initiative in your efforts? Can you elaborate on that?
Information and Communication Technologies or ICTs have gained a lot of prominence in the recent past due to their potential to meet social needs. Assistive technologies like voice and speech synthesis and recognition software, hearing aids and mobility technology can go a long way in providing a sense of independence, education and IT training to disadvantaged and physically challenged children.
The Ann Foundation believes that the information technology era should belong to everyone and provide equal opportunities in health, education and employment. The Ann Foundation thus strives to make a difference with the help of available technologies.
- What countries have you focused on to help disabled children?
Currently, the Ann Foundation has implemented projects in India, Uganda and the Middle-east.
- Have you partnered with other organizations to achieve some of your goals?
The Ann Foundation has sought the support from the Rotary organization in India, Freedom Scientific for their JAWS software for the blind and prominent figures like the Honorable President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam Azad and Her Highness, Princess of Qatar.
Through their latest mission, the Foundation hopes to accomplish their goal, while helping many people to improve their lives. As always, if you are interested in donating to help further their goals with this current mission, please follow the link below. Your donation, however small, will help to furnish special software and the other things which are needed for the workshops and to start the National Center in Cochin.
http://www.annfoundation.org
|
