Mathru Residential School for the Blind

Mathru, located in a suburb of Bangalore, is a residential school for blind and visually impaired children and was established in 2001. At present the school is in rented premises and makeshift sheds. The children are taught life skills such as mobility, personal care, cooking, music, drama, games etc. They are from economically distressed families in Bangalore and other rural districts in Karnataka. Currently there are 42 students studying in grades 1, 2, 3 and 4. Mathru plans to add a grade every year until grade 10 is reached in 2010. The school is recognized by the Government of Karnataka. The children are also given food, clothing and health care. Mathru works towards creating employment opportunities for the blind community. A ten room school funded by Asha and designed by Chitra Vishwanath is on target for completion in August 2005. The school, with a syllabus approved by the Education Board, is well organized and efficiently administered, The staff, most of them partially or fully blind, are trained and qualified to teach blind. Vocational training, including training in computers is given. Future plans are for expansion of vocational training fields and active placement of the blind in jobs so that they may lead independent and productive lives.

Work An Hour 2005 will support Mathru to complete their building complex with necessary infrastructure. The school Asha has funded is part of a complex to serve as a residential school and vocational training center for 100 blind children. The complex will include dormitories for boys and girls, a community and computer center, dining hall and kitchen. The land for the complex has been given at a subsidized cost to Mathru by the Bangalore Development Authority in Bangalore as a Civic Amenities plot.