Mohd Waseem

This Visually Impaired is an Eye-opener…

Braille Without Borders, a Trivandrum-based charitable trust has offered visually impaired Mohammed Waseem, a one year's course in the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs (USE).
What is special about it is, this course in management, project planning, fund raising and computer skills will enable and empower Mr. Waseem to initiate, finance and run a social project.
Waseem is eager to help blind and partially sighted individuals to receive education and qualify for job opportunities. In the USE philosophy, well-trained and empowered blind and partially sighted people will be the best advocates for the visually impaired.
The USE will meet all the costs such as lodging, food, transport (return ticket), health insurance and training.
Waseem is the son of an auto rickshaw driver, and his brother too is visually impaired like him. His father wanted to enroll him into a Madrassa for Islamic studies, but his visual impairment - he lost his full vision when he was 6 - saved the day for him. When he was 7, after running from pillar to post for a special school, he got enrolled into the Sree Ramana Maha Rishi Academy for the Blind. Encouraged by his parents, the boy burnt midnight oil and completed his PUC in Govt College. Later Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled helped him to finish his BA in Journalism. Currently he is doing a diploma course in creative writing. A computer skilled person, Waseem is presently working as an English language trainer. He has also traveled to the US as part of Samarthanam's cultural troupe.
A multi-faced personality, he plays the Veena, rhythm pad, tabala, and has given performances in radio and TV.
"In India, many people come from rural and remote areas and they do not have much of awareness about the facilities and opportunities available. We Indians are inclined towards superstitions, and blind beliefs, probably that is stopping parents to send their children to school for basic education. I have now dedicated my life to the cause of the disabled," says Waseem.
Waseem says constant encouragement is very critical for the disabled to come up in life. He cites his own brother's example who lost his faith in himself as he did not get the requisite encouragement early on in his life.