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Current
requirement and needs:
We
detail in this section the needs of every division in the
establishment.
Current
monthly expenses average US$ 11256 / month
As
our balance sheet shows we are barely able to cover our
expenses. What is worrying us the most is that we are always
relying on donations, which are not a fixed source of income.
Donations require continuous follow-up and huge efforts to
secure. And once secured, the donations are very often used-up
to cover unforeseen or unexpected expenses. By the time we cover
and solve one financial difficulty we are faced by another, more
serious one, to overcome.
1*
Computers
The
establishment acquired 3 new Personal Computers and taught the
blind to use them. This is when our university students showed
their real interest and need to use these machines because they
facilitate their education’s task especially when it comes to
attending lectures. The establishment had only one choice namely
to put at their disposal and on a temporary basis these
machines.
6
special computers for the blind at a cost of US$ 9800 / each, 3
Braille electronic printers to print books and university
lectures at a cost of US$ 8000 / each.
2*
Professional training:
Putting
our belief into practice, namely “It’s better to teach a
blind how to fish instead of offering him a fish”, the
establishment started since 1986 to rehabilitate the blinds
professionally and to give them a career that they can master
and that can become a source of income.
a
- Blind women learn how to weave manually and mechanically. The
establishment owns 2 small machines for weaving and their output
is limited.
Two
industrial weaving machines with an engine costing US$ 6,000.
These machines can produce big size items, which are in demand
in the market. To be noted that we are now facing competition
and the current capabilities of the establishment do not allow
it to compete. The total number of blind women who specialise in
weaving are 14. Some of them receive the wool at home and get
paid after the production is over. Others work or teach in the
establishment to cater for the demand.
b
1- Blind men learn how to cane chairs. A great number of
them learned this profession; some blind women have shown
interest in this profession and learned it.
The
establishment is well known for being able to cane chairs and
there is a lot of demand for this product.
b
2 - Blind men also learn how to make baskets of all kinds
and all related bamboo products. They have excelled in this
domain. The establishment’s output of bamboo products is among
the best available but this industry needs to be protected from
the strong competition emanating form South East Asia. The
establishment has therefore established a marketing unit to help
sell our output and keep the work going. The training time
needed to teach the blind men to cane chairs varies depending on
the capability and willingness of each and every blind.
So
in order to hedge against the wastage of hay, the establishment
found a certain type of hay made from nylon. This material can
be used many times - for training purposes.
Training
can then be done with real hay. The trainees get pocket money
during their training period. Training on basket production and
bamboo work is also costly; this is due to the fact that the
bamboo used for training cannot be re-used and because the
trainees get pocket money during their training period.
Spraying-engine
costing: US$ 250
Air-gun
costing: US$ 370
Spraying
gun US$ 160
Colour
Separation US$ 200
Two
bamboo cutters x 2 US$ 50
Raw
material for teaching and training
3*
Transportation:
When
founded the establishment was making use of the volunteers’
cars to transport the blind. In 1988, the establishment bought 2
mini-buses and kept enhancing the transportation services since
then. Yet, when the number of blind employees in the public and
private sectors became sizeable, transportation problems became
acute.
At
the same time, the numbers of blind university-students became
high. At this point in time the establishment decided to expand
the transportation services to cater for the related needs of
the blind. In 1995, the establishment was able to buy 3
mini-buses and 3 small cars at a cost of US$ 80,000. This amount
was installed for 3 years, yet the establishment could not
settle it up till now. The loan installment amounts were
rescheduled but still the establishment was not able to settle.
To deal with the situation, the establishment called for a
general meeting among all the blind profiting from free
transportation and decided to:
-
Keep transportation free for the university students.
-
Charge a nominal fee to the employees who are getting
transportation allowances from their companies.
The
attendees decided to call on the authorities to ask for
financial support. Unfortunately all these measures did not
allow us to maintain this service and it is expected that the
Car Company will repossess its cars as the installment payments
were not settled. The establishment then decided as an
alternative to ask a company to provide transportation services
for a charge of US$ 1000 per month.
-
15 passenger - mini buses x 3
-
3 small cars
4*
Boarding Division:
Since
founded in 1986 the establishment had training, teaching and
rehabilitating divisions, yet they were all external sections.
Later
on, the establishment visited blind people in the remote areas
far from Beirut and decided to establish a boarding division to
accommodate the blind people visiting Beirut for education or
for work and those who are coming from other Arab countries. The
boarding section was started then in a small independent flat,
which was rented and furnished with the necessary amenities. In
summer 1998, the establishment received blind Gulf Arabs and
trained them in the use of computers and they were the
establishment’s guests and resided in its boarding division.
Rent:
US$ 500 / month
Electricity
+ water + telephone + cleaning + maintenance: US$ 700 / month
Cost
per meal per person: US$ 167 / month
Expansion
of the boarding division to accommodate a bigger number of young
people.
A
division for the females: US$1200 / month
Cook
US$ 400 / month
Note:
The establishment structure is forced to pay housing allowance
for some of the blind, especially for females.
5*
Music:
The
establishment has an oriental music band made of about thirty
persons. The band performed in many charity parties and
festivals along with many famous singers / performers. The band
received many acknowledgements from other singers / performers
and from the audiences. This band acts also as a source of
income for the establishment. The music instruments we hold are:
4 violins, 1 piano, 1 oriental guitar, 2 tambourines.
The
LIB band today needs to be stronger
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One organ, one oriental guitar, some violins and other (beat)
instruments.
-
Training on western music, twice a week, a western music trainer
at a cost of US$ 500 / month
-
Training on oriental music at a cost of US$ 900 / month
6*
Other miscellaneous needs:
-
Braille typewriter (Berkins) x 25 at a cost of US$ 800 per
machine.
-
Talking calculator with calendar and watch for the secondary and
university
students x 50 at a cost of US$ 35 per
machine.
-
Talking wrist watch x 150 at a cost of US$ 12 per watch.
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Touch wrist watch x 150 at a cost of US$ 20 per watch.
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Braille writing and typing paper at a cost of US$ 300 per month.
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Small recording machines x 150 at a cost of US$ 40 per machine.
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Audio tapes for the talking library and university books x 5000.
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