Nyima Wangdu
Nyima Wangdu is the leading advocate for blind-accessible education in Tibet today. He was the 2016 Machik Global Innovation Fellow. As the former Program Director at Braille Without Borders (BWB) Preparatory School for the Blind in Lhasa, established in Tibet in 1998, Nyima worked to maintain the school’s success in educating blind children from across the plateau. Providing intensive training in orientation, mobility, daily living skills, Tibetan, English, Chinese and math braille scripts, the BWB School ultimately reintegrated students into local elementary schools.
As a graduate of the school himself, Nyima travels extensively at home and abroad to raise awareness by stimulating conversations about the social and educational obstacles that blind students face. He also equally educates the public about the great capacity and talents of the students. In 2016, Nyima traveled to the U.S. as part of the University of Virginia Tibetan Entrepreneur Program.
Born in Ganzi in Kham (Sichuan) in 1987, Nyima lost his eyesight when he was 3 months old. At age 15, he was enrolled in BWB in Lhasa where he excelled with a special interest in technology. In 2006, Nyima received the opportunity to further his English studies in England where he also became a mentorship leader for others in the school. After beginning his career at BWB in 2007, Nyima won a competitive spot in a leadership program in Kanthari, Kerala in India.
For Nyima Wangdu's 2016 Machik Global Innovation Fellowship, Machik provided new global networks to support his vital, ongoing work. For example, he presented his vision and programs at Harvard University and George Washington University, visited prominent schools for the blind in the United States, and connected with the National Federation for the Blind. In November 2016, he was one of two Machik Global Innovation Fellows who gave keynote presentations at Machik Weekend at Fordham University's Leitner Center for International Law and Justice in New York City.
As a graduate of the school himself, Nyima travels extensively at home and abroad to raise awareness by stimulating conversations about the social and educational obstacles that blind students face. He also equally educates the public about the great capacity and talents of the students. In 2016, Nyima traveled to the U.S. as part of the University of Virginia Tibetan Entrepreneur Program.
Born in Ganzi in Kham (Sichuan) in 1987, Nyima lost his eyesight when he was 3 months old. At age 15, he was enrolled in BWB in Lhasa where he excelled with a special interest in technology. In 2006, Nyima received the opportunity to further his English studies in England where he also became a mentorship leader for others in the school. After beginning his career at BWB in 2007, Nyima won a competitive spot in a leadership program in Kanthari, Kerala in India.
For Nyima Wangdu's 2016 Machik Global Innovation Fellowship, Machik provided new global networks to support his vital, ongoing work. For example, he presented his vision and programs at Harvard University and George Washington University, visited prominent schools for the blind in the United States, and connected with the National Federation for the Blind. In November 2016, he was one of two Machik Global Innovation Fellows who gave keynote presentations at Machik Weekend at Fordham University's Leitner Center for International Law and Justice in New York City.