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Mahesh, A bright spark Mahesh has helped change perceptions of people with disabilities in the community thanks to his consistent high achievement at school. © Sightsavers

Mahesh, A bright spark Mahesh has helped change perceptions of people with disabilities in the community thanks to his consistent high achievement at school. © Sightsavers

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Mahesh

Top of the class

15-year-old Mahesh is one of hundreds of children benefiting from an inclusive education programme being implemented by Sightsavers and our partners in north-western India. Mahesh has been the highest academic achiever in his class for several years in a row, a remarkable achievement considering he was born without sight.

Mahesh hails from Bhiyasar in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, a remote desert village approximately 180 kilometres from the nearest town. The harsh and sandy climate has made education inaccessible for many children in the region over the years, with disabled children often deprived of their place at school and left with few prospects for the future.

At the age of 10 Mahesh was denied admission to his village school as teachers there felt they lacked the resources to cope with a child who was blind. Mahesh found himself confined to his home, unable to learn and with the full weight of his disability on his shoulders. Although both of Mahesh's parents are teachers they did not fight the school's decision believing, like most of the community, that the local education system could not cater for children with disabilities.

Inclusive education

Around 5 years ago Sightsavers and our local partners conducted a baseline survey for an inclusive education project in the region. Bheem Singh, a local teacher, identified Mahesh as an individual who had been deprived of his right to a full education. Despite initial resistance from the village school Bheem and his colleagues managed to ensure Mahesh was admitted. A detailed individual education plan was prepared for Mahesh to ensure he would have access to all the assistance he required and could develop to his full potential.

Today Mahesh's success knows no bounds. He has mastered Braille, uses other assistive technologies and recently secured marks of over 70% in his Rajasthan State Government exams. Mahesh's headmaster, who had previously denied Mahesh a place, says he is proud to have Mahesh studying at his school.

The story of Mahesh's success has travelled far and wide and has helped convince many in the region that blindness is not an obstacle to success. Mahesh has also inspired many parents whose children suffer from blindness or other disabilities to fight for their right to a full education.

Mahesh is rightly proud of his achievements and wants to use his experience in the classroom to become a teacher in the future. Mahesh is also passionate about the rights of disabled children; "Not a single blind child should be out of school, education is the only way to get back the lost vision". Mahesh is also immensely grateful to his teacher for the role he has played; "Without the support of my teacher Bheem Singh it would have been impossible".

Mahesh's success is a shining example of how education can empower and liberate individuals, and can also become a transformative force in the community; by changing existing perceptions and mind-sets, issues of social exclusion can be addressed, ensuring the previously marginalised have the potential to turn their dreams into reality.