Visually impaired children navigate treasure hunt

More than 30 visually challenged children from Roman and Catherine School for Visually Challenged and Asha Kiran School for Blind, Chikmagalur along with 5 visually challenged adults successfully took the charge as navigators to guide the drivers with normal eye sight.

A four-wheeler family treasure hunt contest, which is a unique programme, perhaps first of its kind in Mangalore, enthralled the visually challenged kids as well as the kids with normal eye sight who assisted each other in furnishing the prescribed task.

With 29 clues written in Braille language read out by the visually challenged kids, the
contestants solved the puzzle and hurried up towards the destination (Panambur).
There was a great deal of enthusiasm on the faces of both the participants and the audience as the event was certainly a unique and exciting one.

“I am not at all tense to take part in the contest as I think it is fun to be a part of this game. I have never travelled in a luxurious car before so I am excited to experience the journey ahead and I am confident that I will perform well,” said Shashikala, one of the participants who was all set to navigate her team.  

Roman and Catherine School Principal Calisus D’Sa who was a participant himself confided that he had no wish to win the game as he wanted children to win it.

“The treasure hunt for visually challenged has set a new trend in Mangalore by providing an opportunity for visually challenged to experience treasure hunt journey. I am sure it will create an awareness among the public and help them accept visually impaired people as equals,” he said. As many as 40 teams took part in the treasure hunt. Team of Capt Allin Lobo and family navigated by visually challenged Divya won the contest by reaching the destination in 65 minutes.