An initiation by Chain For Change - CFC in collaboration with Expedición Solidaria, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain and St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu under the project "Wings to Dreams".

Establishing Resource Centre for Accessible Facilities and integrating it in education system is CFC's mega project to overcome the graphical challenges faced by persons with visual disabilities. There are subjects in curriculum having diagram and graphical content which are understood only through visual cues or perception. This causes more than 90% of the published materials in the world inaccessible to persons with visual disabilities states World Blind Union. This is why, we need your attention and support in any way possible.

Chain For Change has received the 3D printer with the support from Expedición Solidaria and has inaugurated the Resource Centre for Accessible Facilities at St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu on 17th March, 2023. A dedicated course has already been running in Universitat Politècnica de València to teach students 3D design and printing. Chain For Change and St. Xavier's College, Maitighar will work in the printing and overall aspect in Nepal.

On 31st December, 2023, Project Members Sangam Khadka, Sweta Shakya, Sambek Shahi and Sanskriti Pokharel visited Laboratory School, Kirtipur, Kathmandu and gave a workshop on Atomic structure of first 20 elements to the students with visual disabilities of Grade 9.

At first, they took the pre-test of the students to assess their knowledge. Then, Sangam and the team explained about the concept to the students. Each of them sat beside the students with visual disabilities and made them hold the accessible 3D models of Atomic structure. They holed their hands and made them understand about each elements on the table.

The students also used CFC app to read the model description from their mobile devices. They just had to locate the QR and scan with the app. Rest, they could listen to their screen reader, explaining them conveniently. Then post tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the process.

On 29th December, 2023, Project Members Khushi Subedi, Romee Jijicha, Sangam Khadka and Karmendra Shrestha gave a workshop about Plant and Animal Cells to the students with visual disabilities of Grade 9 and 10 studying in Laboratory Secondary School, Kirtipur, Kathmandu.

Khushi who conceptualized and made the accessible 3D Plant and Animal Cells, explained about the topic to the students. Other project members supported the students in understanding the lecture. One by one, they went to the individual student and made them touch the models and learn about the concept by the use of their senses of touch and sound.

Along with that, students also were taught to explore the model through CFC app which gave audio description of the 3D accessible models by scanning the QRs attached to it. Pre and Post tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the process.

On 19th December, 2023, project members from BA department Karmendra Shrestha, Sanskriti Pokharel and Shreejana Katwal Gave a workshop for Grade 6 students with visual disabilities studying in Laboratory Secondary School, Kirtipur.

They divided the students into 3 different groups and each one of them explained their topics to their respective groups. Karmendra explained about the Phases of Moon, Sanskriti explained about the lifecycle of honeybee and Shreejana educated them about the parts of flowers. During the workshop they also taught students with visual disabilities to use CFC app and scan the QR to listen to the model description.

This workshop almost took an entire school day. Each of them picked their turn and switch their groups and shared about their respective accessible 3D models. Pre and Post tests were conducted in every group to assess the effectiveness of the process.

On 8th December, 2023 - Friday, Chain For Change carried out 'CFC App Launch and Awarding Ceremony' at St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu. Fr. Jiju Varghese, S.J., and Ms. Fanny Collado attended the event as an esteem guests.

At first, Co-founder and Treasurer, Ms. Sanjiya Shrestha welcomed the guests. Then, Khushi Subedi and Abhishek Uprety gave a presentation about Project 'Wings to Dreams'. Joon Shakya - It and Creative Specialist introduced everyone about the CFC app features. Then, Karmendra Shrestha shared his experience of being a scribe. Sonu gave a bold speech about her struggle as a student with visual disability and Mr. Khem Prasai shared his journey of teaching and supporting students with disabilities.

At that event, Mr. Khem Prasai, Mr. Devendra Paudel and Mrs. Mina Shrestha were officially inducted to CFC's Hall of FAMES as a honorary members. 15 scribes and 19 team members of event organizer were also awarded with certificates. Our international interns from UPV i.e. Ms. Victoria Olcina Marcos and Ms. Valeria Muller Tofiño received token of love for their great contribution to the Project 'Wings to Dreams'.

On 2nd December, 2023, Interned Architect for Accessibility (Valeria), dedicated team and CFC members organized an interactive Workshop on Accessibility Testing & Assessment of St. Xavier's College, Maitighar from Students/Alumni with Disabilities. The objective of this workshop was to collect the feedback and suggestion regarding the accessibility issues that students and alumni face while navigating the college.

Participants with visual and physical disabilities worked with Valeria and suggested some improvements in the base of 3D maqueta of St. Xavier's College, Maitighar. Then, Joon Shakya - IT and Creative Specialist shared about the new scribe and internal navigation features in the CFC application and gather some feedbacks. Even, Fanny Collado from Expedición Solidaria and Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain attended the workshop and observed the happenings.

On 3rd November, 2023, two of our international intern students (Victoria and Valeria), dedicated team of Project 'Wings to Dreams' and members of CFC went to Laboratory Secondary School, Kirtipur, Kathmandu and carried out a workshop relating to accessible 3D academic models to the students with visual disabilities of grade 6 to 10.

From 19th September, 2023, the printing of the models started in Nepal and till date, prototype of map of Nepal with provinces, Swaymbhunath Stupa, Menstrual cycle of female reproductive organ and mathematics circle, fraction and shape was demonstrated to the children with visual disabilities. Each model had braille leveling and all the product carried an essence of learning with fun. The 3D models were designed by our intern design instructor Ms. Victoria Olcina Marcos.

During the workshop, participating students interacted and learn touching the educational 3D materials and gave their feedback and suggestion to make it more effective. Soon, a mobile app will be launched to give audio description of the 3D models. In the workshop, all the students and teachers with visual disabilities, their parents and teaching staffs said that the products that were designed really helped to overcome the graphical barrier.

On 14th October, 2023 - Saturday, Chain For Change organized assessment of 3D models and CFC mobile app along with Workshop on writing Braille Script to the dedicated team of Project 'Wings to Dreams'. There were two different segments specially design and tailored to support in developing accessible and inclusive 3D products for persons with visual disabilities.

First, we tested how 3D models help people with visual disabilities understand graphical content through an activity. Then, we did a trial run of the Chain For Change mobile app to see how audio descriptions of 3D models help those with visual disabilities understand visual content. Finally, we studied whether inclusion of braille leveling on any 3D models better enhances the learning ability of those with visual disabilities?

In the second part, there was a workshop on writing Braille script facilitated by Ms. Sabitri Paudel and Ms. Sonu Gyuwali. Dedicated team learned to write basic braille alphabets and symbols in English and Nepali along with making simple mathematical calculation.

On October 6, 2023, two international interns, Victoria and Valeria, along with a dedicated team from the BBS department and CFC members, conducted the second workshop about the Solar System for students with visual disabilities studying in grades 6, 7, and 8 at Namuna Machindra School in Lagankhel.

In the beginning, the students were provided with a braille card containing information about the sun, planets, satellites, and the solar system. They read this information and then discussed it within their groups. Each student was given a planet to paint, and the materials for making a solar system chart were provided by the international interns and the dedicated team using locally available resources.

Once the students finished painting their assigned planets and other celestial objects, they added them to the solar system chart. The session concluded with each student giving a brief presentation about the part of the solar system they had worked on. Blind section in charge and respective subject teachers made frequent visit managing their time to witness how their children were learning and grasping during the workshop.

On October 5, 2023, two international interns, Victoria and Valeria, along with a dedicated team that specializes in using locally sourced materials and CFC members, conducted the first Geometrical Shapes Workshop for students with visual disabilities studying in grades 6, 7, and 8 at Namuna Machindra School.

In a prior session focused on resourceful design, a team comprising members from BA, BBS, and Microbiology departments crafted a variety of 2D and 3D geometrical shapes, providing intricate details. They even used a 3D pen to create the outlines of 2D shapes. During the workshop, the students utilized everyday items such as sticks, clay, and paper to construct diverse 3D geometrical shapes. This hands-on experience significantly enhanced the understanding of complex geometrical concepts among the children with visual disabilities, a level of comprehension that printed textbooks or course materials might not have accomplished.

On 3rd October, 2023, International Interns (Victoria and Valeria), a dedicated team from BBS department and CFC members visited Laboratory Secondary School, Kirtipur to carry out 3rd workshop relating to Solar System to the students of visual disabilities of grade 6 and 7.

At first, the students were given a braille card to read some details about the sun, planets, satellite and solar system family. Then, they interacted within the group. As per the names of the planet they received in their braille card, the students were given to paint the planets and other heavenly bodies of solar system chart that was prepared with locally available resources by the international interns and the dedicated team.

When the paint was drying up, students and the dedicated team collected some pebbles. After everything was ready, the students pasted their corresponding planets and other part of the solar system in the chart. Later, they concluded the session by giving short presentation. Ex-coordinator of the school Mrs. Mina Shrestha paid a visit and made the workshop livelier.

On 22nd September, 2023 - Friday, international interns (Victoria and Valeria), dedicated team designing with locally available resources from BBS department and CFC members visited Laboratory Secondary School to carry out the second workshop of Geometrical Shapes for the students of grade 6 and 7.

In the previous class of designing with locally available resources, dedicated team from BA, BBS and BSC Microbiology made different geometrical shapes in 2D and 3D along with the details. They used 3D pen to make the 2D outline. On the workshop day, students used locally available resources like sticks, clays, papers and so on to make various 3D geometrical shapes. The workshop gave more clear idea to these children with visual disabilities about the concept of complex geometrical shapes which otherwise would not be possible to understand through printed published text or course books.

On 19th September, 2023, Intern Design Instructor Victoria along with dedicated team working on 3D designing made a first printing of accessible 3D model of map of Nepal with braille leveling. Intern Design instructor taught the dedicated team members to assemble the 3D printer, place the Resin ink, and process to print the 3D model. This model was design by Victoria with the support of dedicated team. It took almost 12 hours to print the first part of the model and successive number of days to print the rest of the parts.

In September 17, 2023, international interns and exchange students from Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain, CFC members along with a dedicated team, organized a workshop for 19 children with visual disabilities at Laboratory Secondary School, Kirtipur. The workshop focused on helping these children improve their spatial orientation using animals and birds.

Victoria, Valeria, and the dedicated team created animal masks from locally available materials. The masks represented animals like cats, cows, chickens, dogs, monkeys, frogs, and tigers. Each child received a mask corresponding to an animal or bird found in their surroundings. They used these masks to follow the sounds of these creatures and practice navigation.

After the navigation activity, the children enjoyed a dance session to music. At the end of the workshop, they were allowed to keep the masks of the animals and birds they used. The dedicated team from BSC Microbiology provided valuable support throughout the workshop.

On 29th August, 2023 - Tuesday, Ms. Valeria Müller Tofiño visited St. Xavier's College, Maitighar where she had been selected as a Exchange Student from Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain. Superior and Director of International Relations, Fr. Jiju Varghese, S.J officially welcomed her to the college in a small event alongside CFC members, dedicated team and staffs from St. Xavier's College, Maitighar. She is interning as an Architect for Accessibility in the Project Wings to Dreams where she facilitate students participating in the project regarding understanding and creating accessible and inclusive infrastructure and model and also research and study about building and infrastructure of participating educational institutes to provide suggestions and recommendation to make it more accessible and inclusive.

From 21st August, 2023 - Monday, Dedicated team members from BA and BBS department had started their classes of designing with locally available resources. They had been working closely with Victoria (Intern Design Instructor) and progressing on to create concepts on several topics and themes and develop inclusive and accessible models. Once they develop models, they will also be giving workshops based on their outcome and exploration.

On 17th August, 2023 - Thursday, 5 Dedicated team members along with Victoria Olcina Marcos (Intern Design Instructor) and CFC members had visited Laboratory Secondary School, Kirtipur, Kathmandu. In the visit, the dedicated team interviewed different subject teachers teaching the students with visual disabilities in their respective grades. They also had interaction with the Principal of the school Dr. Lakpa Sherpa along with Ex Coordinator Mrs. Mina Shrestha, Blind Section In charge Mrs. Samita Devi Shakya and two of the resource teachers Mr. Ramesh Subedi and Sita Jyawali.

Alongside their visit, they took a tour of the school premises and observed the Blind section for the resources that they have been using and probed their needs and requirement. After this visit, the students working in 3D design have gained some sound understanding about the condition of graphical challenges in their academics and daily lives of persons with visual disabilities.

Dedicated team from BSCCSIT and BIM started their 3D Design classes from 7th August, 2023 - Monday at PTA hall of St. Xavier's College. Ms. Victoria Olcina Marcos who is the exchange student from Universitat Politècnica de València to St. Xavier's College, Maitighar and interned instructor to Project Wings to Dreams; 3D for Accessibility initiated by Chain For Change has been taking 3D design classes for 3 days per week.

Every day the involved members are working on different software to learn and create 3D concept and design. They are also sketching and engaged in participatory group activities to innovate new and effective ideas. These members are responsible for the printing and improving the inclusive 3D materials.

On 25th July, 2023 - Tuesday, Ms. Victoria Olcina Marcos visited St. Xavier's College, Maitighar where she had been selected as a Exchange Student from Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain. Superior and Director of International Relations, Fr. Jiju Varghese, S.J officially welcomed her to the college in a small event alongside CFC members, Dedicated team and staffs from St. Xavier's College, Maitighar. She is interning as a Design Instructor in the Project Wings to Dreams where she facilitate students participating in the project regarding designing from 3D and Locally available resources.

On 2nd July, 2023 - Sunday, Dedicated team members of Project Wings to Dreams received an orientation about visual disability at the hall of Loyola block of St. Xavier's College from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Ms. Sanjiya Shrestha (Co-founder and Treasurer) presented about the disability and its type to the participants. The event also had interactive group games tailored to their needs that would support them to better understand about blindness.

Our Dedicated team from Business Studies and Microbiology Department had visited Laboratory Secondary School, Kirtipur, Kathmandu on 28th June, 2023 and had undertaken survey. All 5 members met with the students and teachers with visual disabilities and associated school staffs and filled the survey and collected their experiences and expectation regarding the 3D models and their perception.

On 28th April, 2023 - Friday, first meeting with the students of St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu was conducted. The Founder & Director of Chain For Change Mr. Abhishek Shahi and Cofounder & Treasurer Ms. Sanjiya Shrestha oriented 18 students from different departments about the project. Mr. Joon Shakya - It & Creative Specialist who is also the lead of the dedicated team for the project 'Wings to Dreams' demonstrated his fellow colleagues about the mobile application that he developed. The dedicated team also had short introduction with their Supervisor Mr. Mirghendra Pradhan - one of the teachers of St. Xavier's College.

Resource Centre for Accessible Facilities was inaugurated in St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu on 17th March, 2023 - Friday in an event jointly organized by Chain For Change along with Expedición Solidaria, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain and St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu.

Mr. Abhishek Shahi, Founder and President of Chain For Change, Ms. Sanjiya Shrestha, Cofounder and Treasurer, Mr. Joon Shakya, It and Creative Specialist, Father Principal Dr. Augustine Thomas S.J, Superior and Director of International Relations Fr. Jiju Varghese, S.J, Director of Loyola Campus Fr. Bobby Josef S.J, representative members of Expedición Solidaria Dr. Cristina Gomez Vicente and Dr. Guillermo Rodriguez Cortes, Board Members of CFC, Departmental heads and teachers from St. Xavier's College, Dr. Lakpa Sherpa, Principal of Laboratory Secondary School, Mrs. Mina Shrestha, Coordinator and Mrs. Samita Devi Shakya, Blind Section In charge, and invited guest attended this event.

On 9th March, 2023, the founders of Chain For Change took the 3D printer for the installation at its 'Resource Centre for Accessible Facilities' located at St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu. The 'Resource Center for Accessible Facilities' is an initiation by Chain For Change - CFC in collaboration with Expedición Solidaria, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain and St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu under the project 'Wings to Dreams'.

On 7th March, 2023 - Tuesday, Founders of Chain For Change in the leadership of Mr. Abhishek Shahi, Faculty members of St. Xavier's College, Maitighar in the leadership of Superior & Director of International Relations Fr. Jiju Varghese, S.J, and representative members of Expedición Solidaria Dr. Cristina Gomez Vicente and Dr. Guillermo Rodriguez Cortes along with Country Coordinator & Interpreter Ms. Sharmila Khadgi became a part of the meeting at LCR of St. Xavier's College. During the meeting, the Chain For Change and its collaborating partners discussed regarding the project 'Wings to Dreams' and planned to inaugurate the 'Resource Centre for Accessible Facilities'. After the meeting, the partners went to observe the room designated for the project implementation.