AGRA CONVENTION 2014

Blind Stars Beyond Facebook Bridging The Gap

7th to 9th November, 2014

Volunteers Experience

Department of Social Work (MSW), ISS, Agra

MSW Volunteers Experience, Agra Convention 2014

When our department was approached by Mr. Akhil Srivastava of the organization Antardrishti in September, to ask for its co-operation in organizing the ?Agra Convention: Blind Stars beyond Facebook ? Bridging the Gap? in our University Campus, we, being the students of MSW, were delighted to have been chosen to be a part of such a noble cause. But, coming from a society that has apprehensions about anyone who is a bit different, we did not know what to expect. Not having spent a very long time with people with disabilities, we were apprehensive as to how our team of just 15-20 volunteers would manage a group of 100-odd blind people. But, after 3 days of being in the same auditorium as them, observing them, listening to them, our myths have been completely shattered.

6th NOVEMBER 2014

THE DAY BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE BLIND STARS

We spent the entire 6th of November adorning the walls of the University auditorium with posters received by the organizers from all over the country. These were posters urging people to share this gift of sight with people who have been denied it. Having done the same task for Antardrishti last December, we knew that people across the country participate in this poster contest with great enthusiasm. Some posters bore very amusing requests like Teri maa ki aankh kisi aur ki zindagi roshan kar sakti hai while some made us think what it would be like to not know what color the sky is!