The Blind Relief Association was founded in Delhi in 1945 with the principal aim of ensuring that visually impaired people are not marginalised but rather integrated into the community through education and training. Its pupils come from all over India and are expertly supervised. The Association has equipment in place to produce audio-cassettes and Braille books (the BRA's library has 4000 Braille books) but not the funds to operate it.
Since 1997, the MOC Charitable Foundation has financed the operational costs of producing audiocassettes and text-books in English, Hindi and Sanskrit, in Braille, including the purchase of the blank cassettes and the paper for a year at a time. Thanks to our contribution, several thousand tapes and hundreds of Braille books are produced every year. For example, between July 2000 and June 2001, 850 Braille books and over 13,000 cassettes were produced. We are now planning to assist the B.R.A. with the purchase of state of the art digital equipment, to replace tapes with CDs.
In 1999, the MOC Foundation provided a much-needed combined goods and personnel vehicle to the Blind Relief Association in memory of one of the Trustees who died in 1998. This vehicle increased the effectiveness of the work of this institution by allowing it to transport students and equipment to work places where they can seek further experience, as well as to outside places of study.
In 2002 we purchased a new high speed duplicator for the production of audio cassettes and funded another replacement goods and personnel vehicle.
From 2003 the Trustees decided to extend assistance to this commendable institution by providing funds for a special class for blind children with learning disabilities.
In 2006 the Trustees committed further resources, agreeing to purchase a second vehicle.
All equipment and tuition grants were in addition to our regular annual contribution for Braille material.
By the end of the current reporting year the MOC Foundation would have contributed over £50,000 (i.e. almost US$ 100,000) towards projects run by the B.R.A.
In 2008 we will also continue to assist a local HCPT group taking children to Lourdes.
Through the Jesuit Order in Macedonia, the MOC will be sponsoring in 2007/8 English language lessons, for local people to improve their prospects of employment in that country.
The MOC Charitable Foundation was invited to contribute towards an annual event to raise awareness about breast cancer in the United States. On the feast of St. Agatha, the patroness of both the MOC and of women with breast cancer, a special Mass is celebrated at which the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered to those who have breast cancer.
It is because of the circumstances of her torture and martyrdom that Agatha is the patroness of those with breast cancer. In 2005 a donation was made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. During 2006, a further donation was made to another North Jersey breast cancer charity. In 2007 a further donation of US$1800 was made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
At present the mass takes place in Edison, New Jersey under the supervision of the Commandery of St. Peter Nolasco.
Our strategy for the reporting year 2007-8
During 2007/8 the Trustees have agreed to continue supporting the project in the Republic of Macedonia, the Blind Relief Institute, HCPT and the Friends of Belarussia Children Hospice.
