“Challenge the moments of despair; life hath never been an impediment”

The Impact of a Challenge: Courage is Contagious. (Real-life achievements and dreams)

1. JSS Faculty: Sisters and Teachers
2. Poem by Yesuamma
3. Ex- students speak
4. Bharathi’s Story: Teacher, once a student of JSS:
5. Experience of Alumini

1 . The Impact of a Challenge: Courage is Contagious. (Real-life achievements and dreams)

“… It hits so hard when all at once the human being is deprived of everything...except the crushing pain. Yet God is closest then. The human being is fortunate if he looks only for God and finds Him amidst the pain, free of everything. While one suffers, one should bring the entire pain to God and look for consolation in Him alone. When one unceasingly offers one’s suffering to God in this way, it reaches a sort of culmination and then is transformed into a great joy, and God receives it wonderfully...”

The paragraph above is an extract from the diary of Mother Elizabeth Czacka, who lost her vision at the age of 22. Out of the darkness of that experience has come light. Many young abandoned infants and blind students continue to be blessed through the work begun by this great visionary, and carried on by many who even today must work against all odds, to give every blind child who comes to this institution, the chance to be able to READ, WRITE, SPEAK, LIVE A JOYFUL AND MEANINGFUL LIFE, AS USEFUL CITIZENS.

This is a challenge in itself and needs every helping hand it can get from society. So many miracles happen when we walk, skip, run, when we climb trees, when we fearlessly touch the unusual – hug a cow, meet a camel; when we meet a new person; when we learn to cross the street or ride a bus; when we contribute to society, when we help others through the lessons we ourselves learned in the dark.

2 . JSS Faculty: Sisters and Teachers:

“We are each other’s hands and feet: often we have little babies brought to us; like every other mother, we too thrill at their first words, their first steps in our nursery. We are so happy, so, so happy…”

“Some have multi-handicaps; some cannot tell us what they are feeling, why they cry. Others have serious questions about life, and the answers we have are inadequate, or take time to satisfy them…”

“For a blind teacher, it is a challenge; but then we all understand each other best. I too was a difficult student they say. I just wouldn’t sit. It gets boring for them to keep on just listening. They want to do something with their hands. Or they like to chat, chat, and chat! Sometimes up to mischief, or they want to do something new…but we all are like that, aren’t we? We all like some fun!”

“You must show your son what a mountain is, and what a river is. Even tastes and varieties of things / species of plants – whatever there is, to know. Even a Lion’s den … but, hey, that’s hard! (Laughter) or a lion’s mouth and teeth. How will a blind child or person get to know what any dangerous thing looks like? Maybe one day technology will help....”

“Oh they want to go to the Disco! They talk about what they hear on FM – all the latest music and words and things from everywhere, these teenagers now ask about social life... How it would be so, so easy to get lost in a discotheque…!!!”

3 . POEM by YESUAMMA

“Wishes”
I wish I were a little bird to fly above the sky and sing a beautiful lullaby to make you sleep
I wish I were a little baby to experience a mother’s love in my heart
I wish I were a river to flow and enjoy nature’s beauty
I wish I were an angel to be by your side in good times and in bad
I wish I were happiness to be given to all people
I wish I were blood to protect you
I wish I were tears to express my feelings
I wish I were salt to give you a bit of taste
I wish I were a little lamb to be so innocent
I wish I were a delicate flower to give fragrance for all
I wish I were love, to be sensitive
I wish I were a fairy to console you, guide you and help you in times of trouble
I wish I were your heart to know the pain and suffering of others, and to beat with love.
(Yesuamma when she was 14 years old)   

4. Ex- STUDENTS SPEAK:

Farhana Banu, graduating History, Lit Soc. :  

“We once did a Swedish song in JSS, translated, “We are flowers… we are the hope of the world… nurse us gently.” This wasn’t just a school; it was home, a family, unique! I learnt independence; saw my gifts, and the true colors of love. God bless Jyothi Seva for blessing blind kids like us.”

Eleeza Souza I year M.A- “We had drama, dance, computer classes, value education; we were given confidence & courage to face the world outside; JSS is a place for the all-rounder!!

Monisha II B.A- I am grateful for 13 yrs of Braille, daily living skills, music, computers, languages, craft, piano…

Sunita III B.com- I’ve been here from age 2 : this institution teaches us to be ‘someone’.

Sathya I B.A -So glad to be a part of JSS! Along with academics, I learnt mobility and developed my personal talents.

Agnes III B.A- Everyone here spent so much time making me an independent person…

5. Bharathi’s Story: Teacher, once a student of JSS:

My sudden blindness at the age of 2 shocked my parents and broke my home.

Amma could not manage my brother and me, so I was placed in DLTB residential school. After Std 6, with no money left for education, I stayed at home, praying.

Soon I joined SRMAB Academy, educated free of charge till the Board exam, and was the best student, scoring 75%!

Appa came back home, but there was no career guide and I stayed home, depressed, till somehow I managed to complete my 1st PU. But I had to stop once more due to financial difficulties at home. For 1 year I wept, ashamed, alone. I remember crying to Jesus many nights.

The very next day Radha my friend told me about JSS: it had 25 blind students. The bigger children studied at the integrated school; the little ones, multi-handicapped, stayed in the House for their lessons. The House was very small, but so homely. It was a dream comes true: I felt that God had brought me to a better place at last.

Turning Point: May 15th, 1994 Radha and I joined JSS; here I completed my 2nd PU with 1st Class, got a Teacher’s Training, sponsored by the Sisters; I had no longer any worries or fear of the future. In 1996, I completed my TTC with a 1st Class: that same year, JSS Primary School opened. We became teachers in this House of Hope, Love and Joy!

Things happen for the good: If Mother Czacka hadn’t been blind; there would not have been such a good institution. These words came true in my life: GOD DELAYS BUT HE DOESN’T DENY.

Blindness is not easily accepted. To some extent we have to give up our independence. But I console myself with the thought that I am now educated, employed, can support my parents, am no burden to them. In pain, I remember Mother Czacka.

Today I’ve completed my BA, can keep a house, and travel with my white cane; even to use the computer: all beyond my dreams!

I believe this Institute is truly a blessing to the blind of our country, so do visit and be blessed.