Almanarah Projects

Fostering Social Awareness Project

One of the major challenges facing the Arab Blind community is the low level of awareness on the part of the Arab community in particular, and of the broader Israeli community, to the reality experienced by this group. Almanarah has created a project to foster social awareness of the rights of the Arab Blind and the importance of their participation in society. It does this by conducting workshops for parents of the blind and for professionals serving them, and through workshops exposing school children and university students to the world of the blind, their needs and rights, which in turn serves to change attitudes and rid stereotypes.
 

Empowerment and Skills Development Project.
The Arab Blind has been traditionally stigmatized by its own community, while living as a minority citizen in the eyes of the State. This context has served for a low self-esteem on the part of the Arab Blind, alienated them from society, limiting their opportunities and minimizing the number of Arab Blind leaders that have emerged over the years. The Empowerment and Skills Development Project will work to overcome this by:
Establishing self-help groups for the Arab blind that will provide a framework for initiating mutual help, increase self-confidence and integration into practical life and will grow a cadre of Arab Blind leaders who will influence societal change.
1.      Broadening the professional and communication horizons of the Arab Blind, by building a website compatible with the Arab Blinds’ needs, and conducting training programs in computers, languages and psychometric exam preparation.
2.      Promoting the talents of the Arab Blind and improving their creative abilities in various domains, such as music, art, theater, writing, etc.
 

Personal Reading and Guidance Project
Almanarah recruits volunteers to serve as personal guidance and reading assistants for Arab Blind pupils and university students. Volunteers undergo a uniquely designed training program that educates on Almanarah’s empowering approach to the blind. 
 

Audio Library Project
There is a lack of Braille and recorded material in Israel specifically tailored to the linguistic and cultural tastes and needs of the Arab Blind. The Audio Library Project is a new initiative for the establishment of an Arab Blind library, providing learning, scientific and artistic materials, some of which are recorded, and other printed in Braille, and in a large print.