Success Stories and Testimonials

Khem Prasain, and Devendra Poudel

Teaching profession is and must always be highly motivated with service and contribution. St. Xavier's College has been providing education based on values from past 3 decades. Annually students from different geography, culture, religion and community perceive education and graduate from this college and we have become a part of this venture for around fifteen years. In our voyage of teaching in this institution we have been abiding not only Jesuits norms and values, but also accomplished our roles with higher responsibility.

In between this tenure, we had received opportunity to teach students with visual impairments and realize that disability cannot stop anybody in acquiring knowledge. As our national poet Madav Prasad Ghimire said in his poem ‘ढुङगाको काप फोरेर पनि उम्रन्छ पिपल सिर्जना शक्ति संसारमा कहिल्यै हुँदैन विफल’ likewise, students with visual impairments had always proved with their excellent performances in their classroom as well as in their examination.

Not only we taught them in classroom, but also obtained bountiful occasions to learn from them, read with them and struggle with them in certain situations. Their constructive and outstanding presence had always galvanized us in our teaching process. There were instances in-between our lectures where we had difficulties in explaining our preaching to them. However, we felt very contented when we were able to make them feel and understand our deliberation in a friendlier manner.

It is even more challenging and frustrating for students with visual impairments to search for a scribe rather than preparing for their internal and board examinations. Empathizing this, we aided them in finding scribes for writing their exam papers. This made us become yet more sensible and pragmatic. It was a complex task to persuade the junior students and convince their parents by the same token. At times we had to phone the parents of the scribe for requesting their consent and approval.

With all these problems and their remedies, assistance and amiability; we have become very close from our hearts. At the present, they have already completed their academic journey from this college. These birds have flown from the precipice of the college fluttering their wings of consciousness. They are striving through the hills of life. We wish them for their perennial success in their future endeavors.

Video:

Sibika Silwal

“When we grow older, we will discover that we have two hands, one to help our self and other to help others.”

Namaste, I am “Sibika Silwal” and I want to share with you all a little about my experience as a scribe. I would like to begin with the reminiscent of my first exam that I have written. I remember the day when “Khem” sir came to me offering me this wonderful opportunity where I could serve a visually impaired examinee as a scribe. I was completely unaware about the process, the pattern; in fact everything. I was little nervous but, excited too since I was about to do something new. Eventually, the exam day had come. As soon as she arrived, we headed towards the exam hall. We got our question paper and we were all set to begin.

First, she asked me to read out the question. As I finished reading them out, there were rarely any questions she said that she had not studied or she did not know. Then after, we started working on answers; she explained it to me with such a beautiful reference which made me able to understand the concepts thoroughly; there by, enhancing my confident.

The first question that I was writing for carries 15 marks and we were to write around 8 pages. I was quite nervous at that moment but, as she began explaining and I went on writing we completed around 5 pages without my realization. Similarly, we appeared on other exams and those 5 days ended in no time.

I remember the moment when I use to panic, due to the pressure of time. 5 minutes remaining and we have 2 questions worth 5 marks yet to attend but, she used to handle the situation so well. In that 5 minutes, first she use to calm me down, make me believe that we could do it and then explain her answers to my mind which had been completely emptied due to all that panicking. However, we would manage to write all the answer and did not miss any of the questions. During all this process, what I understood about visually impaired student is that they completely believe on we scribe and they trust on our answer without any doubt. They have a high level of trust. They have high level of patience. They explain every answer as many times as we ask them to. Besides that, they are very supportive.

Even today, I remember a lot from this subject. So, Lastly I would like to say that if you ever get this lucky chance of helping anybody as a scribe, take it and give your hundred percent. Be helpful, if you see anyone without a smile give them yours.

Video:

Shikshya Shiwakoti

Namaste everyone, I am “Shikshya Siwakoti”, scribe for a visually impaired examinee in the board exam of bachelor 3rd year. In the course of acquiring education, I have learnt that helping other is the greatest virtue. I got to implement the prior statement practically at age 17 and for providing me this golden opportunity, I would like to thank my teacher Mr. Khem Prashain who teaches us Nepali in St. Xavier's College, Maitighar, Kathmandu.

I had read and acknowledged the great stories of prominent personalities like of Helen Keller, Stephan Hawking and Nepal’s Jhamak Kumari Ghimire vividly in the pages of books but, in those past 5 days,, I got to stumble upon those prodigious stories in my real life experience. I witnessed brave worriers fighting for their rights, I saw dauntless individuals who were conquering over their weaknesses; truly, visually impaired examinees proved me with their action that if there is will, there is a way. Those 5 days of writing the exam papers became a great source of illimitable inspiration to me. Actually I want to express my gratitude to her family for considering me not only as a scribe but, as a single unit of her family member in those amazing days.

Embracing her daughter's dream as her own dream and showering all the love in the world to cure her children's pain no matter in any situation have indeed touched my heart the most. May be somewhere in between, I have pledged deep inside my heart that I would also bestow the same parenting in far future. (Transcribed from Nepali)

Video:

Saugat Gautam

Bewildered, frightened, excited and what not? The mixed emotions struck me as a gong is struck by a hammer when my teacher asked one of us to write an exam as a scribe. I didn't ponder anything; a divine force raised my hand up at the drop of a hat and made him bless me with that opportunity. My teacher was so pleased that he poured me all his blessings with his charming smile; I could feel that. The only thing, which was hovering around my mind, was,

“I am going to do something good for someone.”

The next hour was waiting me to gush a new experience when I met him. He, a student of BA III year, visually impaired, cherished when he knew that his scribe had come to meet him. Oh! His smiling was the most relishing moment of my life. In the heat of the moment, we had a bit of a conversation. We exchanged our names and addresses.

When I went home being very delightful and shared my parents about me scribing for a visually impaired during his examination, they twinkled stating, “Our son has grown big now.” How contented I was when I saw them being happy! The night before the exam-day, I couldn't sleep well. I, a +2 student, was appearing in BA III year exam as a scribe. “What if my hands tremble? What if I can't write as fast as he wants? What if I do not wake up on time? (I live 6 km away from the college and it takes about half an hour to reach there provided there's no traffic jam. So, I had to wake up early.)” Such thoughts gave me goose bumps the whole night. Fortunately I fell asleep a little later and the next thing that I heard was not my thoughts questioning my head but the clock with its alarm storming my ears. Hopefully with a prepared mindset I left home and reached before time.

The exam started leaving two of us in a small cabinet. I wrote what he dictated. He would ask me underline some words, change paragraphs, recite spellings and I would do the same. He also asked me to draw some pictures for which he'd trace his image on my palm and I’d understand him. It's surely breathtaking task for me to solve those perplexing questions and extended answers in 4 hours (An extra hour is provided to disabled ones). In those five days, I was totally fascinated by his fluency in giving answers. I wondered how the words could be recalled from his reminiscence despite being visually impaired; how hard it would be to remember those spellings. I felt being dictated by a genius rather by an impaired. He attempted each and every question. I salute his determination, dedication and diligence.

They say experience is the best teacher; it is for sure. I left some of my classes but it didn't make any difference. The thing that mattered the most was “I did something good for someone.”

Bhawana Adhikari

At first, I would like to thank the organization 'Chain For Change' for providing us such a great opportunity to participate in this effective training program. Really, those 3 days were very wonderful and effective. It was my first time participating in such guiding and skill development training program.

I got to learn a lot of new things. Before, I felt difficulty when I had to deal with persons with visual impairments. I had no idea of handling them while walking with them though I use to try but, after this training I got appropriate knowledge to help them. I learnt a lot of skills that are proper to use while making them walk on the road, stairs, narrow path or through doors, eating with them in cafeteria or in kitchen and making them sit comfortably in any place.

For two days we learnt proper guiding and mobility skills in both indoor and outdoor settings. On the third day i.e. the last day of training was the most wonderful day. We went for hike to Shivapuri-Nagarjung national Park. That day was the day where we could apply all those guiding techniques and mobility skills in the field that we learned throughout the training. We completed our destination with our visually impaired pairs guiding them very well. We had lot of fun there.

Personally for me, it was a huge pleasure and opportunity to guide and support persons with visual impairment. Getting directly involved in the program and helping them to improve their mobility skills made me so happy. I must say those three days were such a wonderful and memorable days of my life. At last I would be very thankful if this organization would organize such types of beneficial programs in future and also wish to be part of it.

Trisha Lama

Chain For Change team put forward a new concept where I got to learn many new things which I never thought it important. We always learnt the techniques that helped us to move outdoor only. But, this time, it was something different. I learnt to walk in those places which are totally new for me. I like the way the trainers and the organization members train the trainees. I am happy that I could go for hiking with all of my visually impaired friends and our partner with good vision in a pair. I believe the training was fruitful. The best part of the entire training session was to bring both persons with and without visual impairments together.

I hope I will be able to take part in such programs in near future. Thank you profusely for having me as a participant. I cannot thank you enough for providing me with the rolling white cane. If such trainings could be organized in the future, no one would be left behind. If the organizers could extend more days for the training than, there would have enough time to learn all the techniques properly. Thank you a lot.

Neha Singh

I am Neha Singh. I am very thankful to ‘Chain For Change’ for giving me an opportunity to participate in this program. During the training hours, I have learned to walk with the white cane and also safely fold it back. The games which were included in the session were very entertaining and educating. I learned to walk on my own using the white cane.

One of the members of this organization was my partner. She taught me all the lessons and even translated the instructions in Nepali when needed. She taught me time and again to help me walk with the white cane without any hesitation. I could hike with my white cane at Shivapuri-Nagurjung National Park on 3rd day and this was very amazing. I have never gone for hiking before in my life but, after receiving this training I was able to do so.

If the organization could provide some more time in recreational activities on the 3rd day while we were on hiking then, it would have been more fun. If there were enough time, we could have spent effective and good time together.

I want to extend my appreciation to my pair guide for guiding me throughout the hiking route. All the CFC team must be credited for organizing this amazing event. I wish there would be more of such program in far future and even longer like for a week. This would help every individual to practice, gain more confidence and obtain adequate knowledge.