My Path Leads to Tibet : Sabriye Tenberken
Diagnosed with a retinal disease at the age of two, Sabriye Tenberken loses her sight at the age of twelve. At age, twenty-eight, while at the University of Bonn, she takes up the study of Chinese and Asian civilizations, and to her horror, learnes that blind children in Tibet, live in the most appalling conditions. A blind child is considered as a dishonor to the father. So most often, the child is abandoned or made to beg for survival.
In 1997, Sabriye sets on her impossible mission to help the blind children of Tibet. Due the exposure to the ultra-violet rays at that high altitude, the TIbetans in general are prone to blindness.
The path to her goal is fraught with hardships. FIghting against the bureacracy, both with the Tibetans and the Chinese is no mean feat. Further, her sponsporing organization in Germany remains indifferent to the needs of her Project.
Aided by the faithful, DOlma; Paul, her German friend; the faithful Nordon; and Anila, the nun, who was with the group for a brief period of time, Sabriye established a school for the blind in TIbet, and introduced the braille system of communication. Further, she also encourages her students to be self-reliant, helping them cope with directions. As the news of her school spreads far and wide, the school constantly finds itself taking on new students. In all this, the generous
contribution of Nordon's mother, her house which she sold to make space for the sake of blind school was of immense value to the survival of the school and its occupants.
Along the way, Sabriye's mother also pitches in. Sabriye, supported by her family and friends, and more importantly, her immense will-power, surmounts the odds and realizes her vision.
Sabriye Tenberken was invited to the World Economic FOrum, New York, as one of the
'Leaders of Tomorrow'. Today, both Paul and Sabriye work to establish plans for the blind in Africa and China. They co-founded the, 'Braille Without Borders', that provides services to the blind the world over.
Reading the book proved to be a humbling experience. It teaches you courage, paitence and extraordinary will-power in the face of all odds. Most often, we take life for ranted. When you read stories of the blind children in Tibet, we realize we still have a long way to go in this journey of self-discovery.
In 1997, Sabriye sets on her impossible mission to help the blind children of Tibet. Due the exposure to the ultra-violet rays at that high altitude, the TIbetans in general are prone to blindness.
The path to her goal is fraught with hardships. FIghting against the bureacracy, both with the Tibetans and the Chinese is no mean feat. Further, her sponsporing organization in Germany remains indifferent to the needs of her Project.
Aided by the faithful, DOlma; Paul, her German friend; the faithful Nordon; and Anila, the nun, who was with the group for a brief period of time, Sabriye established a school for the blind in TIbet, and introduced the braille system of communication. Further, she also encourages her students to be self-reliant, helping them cope with directions. As the news of her school spreads far and wide, the school constantly finds itself taking on new students. In all this, the generous
contribution of Nordon's mother, her house which she sold to make space for the sake of blind school was of immense value to the survival of the school and its occupants.
Along the way, Sabriye's mother also pitches in. Sabriye, supported by her family and friends, and more importantly, her immense will-power, surmounts the odds and realizes her vision.
Sabriye Tenberken was invited to the World Economic FOrum, New York, as one of the
'Leaders of Tomorrow'. Today, both Paul and Sabriye work to establish plans for the blind in Africa and China. They co-founded the, 'Braille Without Borders', that provides services to the blind the world over.
Reading the book proved to be a humbling experience. It teaches you courage, paitence and extraordinary will-power in the face of all odds. Most often, we take life for ranted. When you read stories of the blind children in Tibet, we realize we still have a long way to go in this journey of self-discovery.
Comments
very interesting - hope to read it soon and hopefully, draw some inspiration for the 'journey'.