Press Release
AMWAY OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION SETS UP
COMPUTER CENTRE FOR VISUALLY CHALLENGED
 Partners with National Association of Blind
Mumbai, 8th September, 2010: Reiterating its commitment to the holistic growth and
development of the visually challenged in India, Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) a
registered non-profit organization, which looks after Amway India's Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) initiatives for Amway India partnered with the National Association of Blind (NAB) here
in Mumbai to establish a computer centre for the visually challenged. This is the eleventh
computer center for visually challenged by AOF after successfully launching in Gurgaon, Jaipur,
Chandigarh, Kolkata (2), Patna, Ahmedabad, Pune, Trivandrum & Hyderabad. Apart from this, AOF
has also set up a vocational training centre for the visually challenged at New Delhi.
Christened “AOF – National Association of Blind - Center of Excellence”, this computer centre
located at Reay Road, will provide basic computer education & vocational training to the visually
challenged. The centre was inaugurated by Mr. William S Pinckney, Chairman – AOF. Also present
on the occasion were Mr. Suhas V.Karnik, Hon.Secretary, National association of Blind, Mr.Achinta
Banerjie, Vice President, Amway India (west), Mr. Shishir Jha, Area Manager Amway India,
Maharashtra & Goa, Mr. Mangesh Borgoankar, leading Tellywood singer, Ms. Palavi Kadam, Deputy
Director, NAB Employment Department and Amway distributor leaders.
Speaking at the occasion, Mr. William S. Pinckney, Chairman, Amway Opportunity
Foundation said, “we at Amway are extremely proud to be associated with NAB. Our relationship
now has become even stronger today with a clear focus of enabling the visually challenged children
to have a better future. A future that is full of empowerment and self-dependence.” He added, “It
is very well understood now that business cannot succeed in a society that fails. Achieving inclusive
and sustainable development can be realized only if different sectors of the society work together
harmoniously”
Spread over the area of 350 sq feet this centre has 10 computers with headphones & software. All
10 computers installed at the centre are equipped with special software for the visually impaired
namely JAWS that will enable them to use computer effectively. This talking software facilitates in
‘hearing’ the function of the particular key/command simultaneously with the click of the key thus
enabling the visually challenged person to hear what they are typing.
AOF had organized a Charity Musical Evening program in May 2010 with the objective to institute
this computer center for NAB. Celebrity Tellywood singer Mangesh Borgoankar (Sa Re Ga Ma
Finalist) was the lead singer for the musical show then. AOF specially invited him as guest of honor
to witness this memorable moment. A delighted Mangesh opined, “it’s my privilege to be here on
this occasion. This gesture of AOF will surely go a long way in shaping the future of the visually
challenged in the world of IT”
Commenting on the occasion Mr. Suhas V. Karnik, Hon. Secretary, National Association of
Blind said, “It is important in today’s time to be technically strong. This effort by Amway
Opportunity Foundation will surely help these visually challenged children to learn with technology
& upgrade their skills.”
The centre will provide a basic computer course for 6 months and a vocational training course for a
duration of six months in which students can learn Jaws, MS Windows XP, MS Office, C++,
Java_Advanced Java, MS Internet Explorer.
About NAB-Mumbai
Incepted in 1952 NAB- National Association for Blind begun its journey with a vision to work
towards an environment where each and every blind person of this country will be able to lead a
life up to his optimum potential and be so empowered as to be able to work towards his own
growth and Development. Since the NAB has been relentlessly working for the welfare of visually
challenged people. It is has successfully significant projects like Braille Productions, White Cane
Day, Talking Library for blind, Louis Braille Memorial research center which does study in the field
of blindness, IDBI Polytechnic etc.
About Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF):
AOF is a registered non-profit organization looks after Amway India’s Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR), and has been actively associated with several projects dedicated towards
child welfare across the country. One of the biggest challenges in education of visually impaired
children is to make books available in Braille, text or audio described format so that students can
read themselves. Under the National Project for the Blind, AOF with its partners AICB and
NAB has ensured making available Braille textbooks to over 85,000 school-going visually
challenged children in 15 states.
Another project that AOF runs is Project Sunrise – a project which envisages partnership with
needy children’s home / orphanages to support their educational, health & medical requirements.
AOF has partnered with 54 such orphanages across the country.
AOF’s Vision: To enable the lesser-privileged child to lead a better life.
AOF’s Mission: To be the front-runner in providing opportunities in child education and health to
attain economic independence, with special focus on the blind child
For further information, please contact:
Jignesh Mehta
AOF
Mobile: +919987258692
Manasi Shirodkar
Sampark Public Relations
Mobile: +91-9833926435