1. Onkyo Prize Braille Essay Contest for the blind in Asian Region, 2008 :
We are pleased to announce that Onkyo Co. Ltd. and “Braille Mainichi” of Mainichi Newspaper Co. Ltd., Japan, are organizing a Braille Essay Contest for the Asian region.
Asian Blind Union (ABU) has been requested to conduct the Contest on
their behalf.
The topic of the Essay is:
(a) "How to pay real tribute to Louis Braille on his 200th Birth Anniversary – January 4, 2009”.
(b) “Providing good education to all blind children in your country – why and how”?
(c) “We blind people are second to none. Illustrate with suitable examples.”
(d) “What I would do if I were the Secretary General of United Nations for world peace and prosperity
– the point of view of a person with disability.”
(e) “Global warming – what it is and how to check it – a blind person’s perspective.”
(f) “Which do you prefer for gaining knowledge and information about the world—Braille or audio devices—Why?”
(Illustrate with some interesting personal stories/episodes).
The Essay can be written by the blind participants in English or
their mother tongue in Braille. The length of the Essay must be within 1000
words in English translation, including the description of title, country,
applicant's name, age, and name of association or school involved.
The Essays must be completely original in nature. Best five entries from
each country shall be sent to the Secretariat of Asian Blind Union for
making final selection of five best entries from the whole region.
For India, all entries in Braille need to be sending to All India
Confederation of the Blind, Sector-5, Rohini, and Delhi-110085 in Braille
before 31st May 2008. No entry thereafter shall be accepted.
In determining the best five entries, consideration shall be given firstly,
to the story line closest to the topic given above, secondly, the impact and
credibility of the experiences and thirdly, the accuracy and neatness in
using Braille.
The entries thus received at AICB, would be examined by AICB
Selection Committee and its decision shall be final and binding to all
parties. Five best entries shall be forwarded to ABU Secretariat for
selection.
The Result of the Contest would be announced in December, 2008. The
following prizes would be awarded:
(a) 1st prize (Ootsuki Prize) US$ 1,000. - and a memorial souvenir with the
value of US$ 100.
(b) Excellent Work (for above the age of 25) -- $ 500.
(c) Excellent Work (for below the age of 25) -- $500.
(c) Fine Works two prizes of $200 each for above the age of 25.
(d) Fine Works (two prizes) of $ 200 each for below the age of 25.
2. Conference on Status of Braille in Asian region:
As a part of the year-long programme of celebration of Louis Braille’s 200th Birth Anniversary, our Confederation is convening an event of momentous significance in the form of a Regional Conference on Braille for the ABU region. The Conference is supported by leading International organizations like CBM, NABP, Braille Mainichi Newspaper Company of Japan and European Union of the Blind.This important Conference would be held in India International Centre, New Delhi on December 22 and 23, 2008 and would have over 100 representatives from the region.
The Conference seeks to focus closely on various issues relating to Braille development, Braille production and Braille teaching in the region.
3. National Poster competition on Braille