The Xavier’s Resource Center for the Visually Impaired received a donation of Rs 50,000 from the Lions Club of Byculla on December 23, 2024 when members of the Club visited the Center. The amount, donated by Arin and Capt Percy Master, is to be used for purchasing equipment, mentions a press note sent by the Club to Parsiana.
Top (from l): Dr Sam Taraporewalla, Capt Percy and Arin Master;
above: Special Olympics organizers
Run by Dr Sam Taraporewalla, who has nil vision, the Center requires advanced equipment to help visually impaired persons lead a normal life. Taraporewalla explained to the visiting Club members that modern equipment enables even totally blind persons to operate laptops, communicate and undertake many other tasks that normal persons take for granted. Taraporewalla and his team are constantly on the lookout for advancements in science with which to train visually impaired persons how to operate new equipment.
Percy lauded the efforts of the Center and the dedication of the team. The Club assured Taraporewalla that they would continue to assist him in the purchase of equipment in future as well.
A few days later, on January 3, 2025, Lions International organized the 26th Special Olympics at Bombay’s Priyadarshini Park in which over 1,200 special children from 30 schools participated. The children were provided breakfast and lunch and each participant was given a certificate of appreciation while the winners in various sporting activities received medals. In true Olympic tradition, there was the lighting of the torch accompanied by a live band and a march past in which school children with impaired vision, the disabled and those with intellectual deficiencies participated with enthusiasm.
The Lions Club of Byculla gave a large donation for the event. Percy, who had learnt that students were carrying their lunch to school in plastic bags, distributed over 1,250 stainless steel tiffins for the purpose.
Chief guest at the event was Viraf Mistry, district governor, with other members, including Feroze Katrak and chief philanthropist Percy being present, the write-up notes.