G-2836

Proposed Braille Literacy Proj

Description

Financing

Documents

Photos

History Logs

Project Description

Region: Asia

Country: India

Location: Bangalore

Total Budget: $64,600

Area of Focus: Basic education and literacy


Background:

Blindness is defined as the state or condition of being unable to see because of injury, disease, or congenital condition. Currently, India has 12 million blind people which makes it one-third of the world's blind population. India has 320,000 children (<16 years) who are blind, and this constitutes 1/5 of the world's blind children. Braille is the writing system used by people who are blind.

Problems & Solution:

Braille literacy rate in India is less than 1%. The pedagogy of Braille education requires one-to-one teaching and supervision. The lacks of special educators and outdated braille teaching methods have resulted in inefficient classroom teaching and slow learning outcomes. The current primary education tools include wooden blocks, marbles and plastic slates, with continuous 1:1 teacher supervision. This has led to abysmally low Braille literacy rates world over. The lack of special educators, insufficient STEM content in Braille and lack of general awareness has contributed to unemployment and inefficient rehabilitation among the visually impaired. The efficiency of Braille learning can be improved upon drastically. It is essential to address this issue as there is a very high correlation between Braille literacy and employment among the visually impaired.

Thinkerbell Labs is solving the challenges associated with Braille literacy by the first-of-its-kind Annie Smart Class at the core of which is Annie, named after Annie Sullivan, the instructor and lifelong companion of Helen Keller. Annie is the World's First Braille Literacy device that helps the visually impaired learn to read, write, and type in Braille, on their own through interactive audio-guided content. This innovative technology will enable self, collective and competitive learning, ease homework delivery and evaluation, and bring in easy tracking of progress. The key features of the device include:

1. Writing module: The digital Braille slate is the first-of-its-kind in the world and is unique to Annie. With audio feedback, and tactile input/output, the digital Braille slate is a foolproof method of teaching Braille writing with ease and efficiency.

2. Typing module: The Braille keyboard is designed directly in line with the standard Braille used worldwide, thus adhering to international standards, and training for its usage.

3. Reading module: The refreshable Braille display consists of 2 large Braille cells and 6 standard sized Braille cells. It works in conjunction with the typing and writing modules, thus helping the user learn in real-time to read and write/type Braille at the same time, ensuring better learning outcomes.

4. Data analytics: Continuous data capture of the children's usage pattern helps the teachers, parents, and the Government track device usage and the progress of each child.

5. Premium interactive content: Custom designed interactive audio-tactile content ensures higher engagement and better consumption of lessons. Games, challenges, and learning assessment tools make practice fun and evaluation easy. Kannada medium content ensures that all children learn equally well.

Annie Smart Class innovative technology is thus a connected learning center empowered with interactive content with capability of remote monitoring & evaluation. Implementation of Annie Smart Classes in schools has the potential to improve early-stage literacy of blind children. Further, it gives exposure to blind children to advancing technology to keep up with developments taking place in the present times. As a part of the Braille literacy initiative, RBNW is proposing to setup Annie Smart Classes across 5 blind schools in Bangalore with 10 Annie's each.

Budget:

1. 5 Smart Classes with 10 Annie's each $60,390

2. Electrical wiring, etc. for 5 schools $1558

3. Contingency, $ fluctuations $2360

4. Publicity $292

4. Total $64,600

Primary Host Partner

District: 3190

Rotary Club of: Bangalore North West

Primary Contact: UB Shanker

Email: ubshanker@gmail.com

Primary International Partner

District: 5440

Rotary Club of: Fort Collins-Breakfast

Primary Contact: Krishna Murthy

Email: kmurthy5@comcast.net

Project Status

Completed
This project is "Completed". This means the project has been implemented and the report was accepted by The Rotary Foundation. The project will stay listed on this website as a testimony of the achievements of the project partners.

Project listed for the 2021-22 Rotary Year.

The TRF Grant application number is #2233572.

Proposed Financing

Existing Contributions Towards This Project

Date

Cash

DDF

Total

Bangalore North West (3190)

27-Oct-21

$3,900

$13,000

$16,900

Fort Collins-Breakfast (5440)

10-Nov-21

$6,000

$12,000

$18,000

Tumkur East (3190)

15-Jan-22

$600

$0

$600

Bangalore Abilities (3190)

15-Jan-22

$700

$0

$700

Bengaluru Orion Gateway (3190)

15-Jan-22

$800

$0

$800

Bengaluru Platinum City (3190)

15-Jan-22

$2,300

$0

$2,300

Belgaum South (3170)

18-Jan-22

$1,300

$2,000

$3,300

Hubli (3170)

22-May-22

$400

$0

$400

Amount Requested from The Rotary Foundation

-

$21,600

$21,600

Total

$64,600

Note: as of July 1, 2015 there is a 5% additional support fee for cash contributions. This fee does not appear in the financials above because it does not apply if the funds are sent directly to the project account (without going through TRF, and therefore without Paul Harris credit). Clubs sending their cash contribution to TRF must be aware they will have to send an additional 5%.

Project Supporting Documents

Project Photos


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History Log Entries

27-Oct-21

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Creation of project page.

15-Jan-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Pledge of $1,000 by UB Shanker of the Rotary Club of Tumkur East, District 3190.

15-Jan-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Pledge of $500 by UB Shanker of the Rotary Club of Bangalore Abilities, District 3190.

15-Jan-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Pledge of $1,000 by UB Shanker of the Rotary Club of Bengaluru Orion Gateway, District 3190.

15-Jan-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Pledge of $2,500 by UB Shanker of the Rotary Club of Bengaluru Platinum City, District 3190.

18-Jan-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Pledge of $1,400 with $2,000 DDF by Ashok Naik of the Rotary Club of Belgaum South, District 3170.

18-Jan-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Project is now "Fully Pledged".

22-May-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Pledge of $400 with $2,000 DDF by UB Shanker of the Rotary Club of Hubli, District 3170.

7-Jun-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Project reverted to "Published".

7-Jun-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Project is now "Fully Pledged".

14-Jun-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Application Sent to The Rotary Foundation through Member Access.

16-Aug-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Application approved by The Rotary Foundation.

2-Sep-22

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Payment has been issued by The Rotary Foundation.

2-May-23

by Krishna Murthy

an interim report s being submitted. Recently got an approval from RGO for a change in the scope of the project and with remaining funds able to equip another school.

22-May-23

by Krishna Murthy

An interim report submitted to TRF and accepted. Final repeort may be sent later part of the year

26-Jan-24

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Final Report sent to The Rotary Foundation.

24-Feb-24

by Krishna Murthy

System Entry: Final Report approved by The Rotary Foundation.

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