By Khumbulani Muleya Dorothy Duncan Centre is appealing to corporates and well wishers for assistance to keep the charitable organisation afloat.
The centre is mandated to produce Braille material, offer rehabilitation and library services.
Chairperson of the centre Michael Frudd told Standard Style on the sidelines of a consultation and open day event that the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the operations of the institution.
“The purpose of this open day was to try and create awareness of the Dorothy Duncan Centre, principally to corporates and also to inform the community about what we do and what we are capable of doing,” Frudd said.
“We have been underground for a couple of years due to Covid-19, but we are now back and quite determined to move ahead.
“We are also appealing to corporates and well-wishers to assist this centre in whatever way so that we keep on going.”
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
The event was attended by Senator Watson Khuphe, representatives from various organisations, including Unicef and Econet, among others.
“Resources are very strained and we believe that as the economy picks up, a number of corporates will be able to sponsor some of the projects that we have so as to update our equipment throughout the centre and enable us to really service the blind in a much more meaningful way,” Frudd said
In a wish list shared with attendants, the centre appealed for various donations such as a water tank and the drilling of a borehole.
Some of the equipment and hardware at the Dorothy Duncan Centre is outdated and there is need to adapt to technological advancement.
Equipment such as desktops, android smart phones that suit people with visual impairment, computer headphones, laptops, Victor reader stratus 4 DAISY player which is a handheld, highly versatile audio book reader and music player are amongst the things Frudd mentioned in the list, including a pool car.
Dorothy Duncan Centre by being a transcriber of Braille books, also needs equipment like the Perkins braille machines, braille starter kits and other related accessories such as braille word building kits, braille playing cards and binding machines.
The rehabilitation department which needs to be fitted with an air conditioner has a kitchen next to it which requires pots, a gas stove and tank, fridge and basic groceries that cater for the students.
Frudd said one of the targets is the production of braille books for the new school curriculum.
“We are hopeful that we will be able to move that forward with the ministry of Education. This is one of the things that we believe Unicef will consider funding and if they do, we have the capacity to meet the requirements,” Frudd said.
“It is a long way to go in terms of building relationships, getting sponsorship and getting the community as a whole behind what we are doing.”