By Khumbulani Muleya
DOROTHY Duncan Centre is appealing to corporates and well-wishers for assistance to keep the
charitable organization afloat.
The center is mandated to produce Braille material, and offer rehabilitation and library services.
Chairperson of the center Michael Frudd told HStv on the sidelines of a consultation and open day
event that the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the operations of the institution.
“The purpose of this open day was to try and create awareness of the Dorothy Duncan Centre,
principally to corporates and also to inform the community about what we do and what we are
capable of doing,” Frudd said.
“We have been underground for a couple of years due to Covid-19, but we are now back and quite
determined to move ahead.
“We are also appealing to corporates and well-wishers to assist this centre in whatever way so that
we keep on going.”
The event was attended by Senator Nasper Makau, representatives from various organizations,
including Unicef and Econet, among others.
“Resources are very strained and we believe that as the economy picks up, a number of corporates
will be able to sponsor some of the projects that we have so as to update our equipment throughout
the centre and enable us to really service the blind in a much more meaningful way,” Frudd said
In a wish list shared with attendants, the center appealed for various donations such as a water tank
and the drilling of a borehole.
Some of the equipment and hardware at the Dorothy Duncan Centre are outdated and there is a need
to adapt to technological advancement.
Equipment such as desktops, android smartphones that suit people with visual impairment,
computer headphones, laptops, Victor reader stratus 4 DAISY player which is a handheld, highly
versatile audio book reader and music player are amongst the things Frudd mentioned in the list,
including a pool car.
Dorothy Duncan Centre by being a transcriber of Braille books also needs equipment like the
Perkins braille machines, braille starter kits and other related accessories such as braille word
building kits, braille playing cards, and binding machines.
The rehabilitation department which needs to be fitted with an air conditioner has a kitchen next to
it which requires pots, a gas stove and tank, a fridge, and basic groceries that cater to the students.
Frudd said one of the targets is the production of braille books for the new school curriculum.
“We are hopeful that we will be able to move that forward with the ministry of Education. This is
one of the things that we believe Unicef will consider funding and if they do, we have the capacity to
meet the requirements,” Frudd said.
“It is a long way to go in terms of building relationships, getting sponsorship, and getting the
community as a whole behind what we are doing.”
