[Greater-baltimore] Article in Paper in India about Marguerite Woods

[Amy Phelps]

I wanted to share this with everyone. Marguerite Woods is a fellow federationist and is a former student of our BISM SAIL program in Baltimore and graduate of our CORE program. She will return to the states in December after completing a one-year program in India at the International Institute on Social Entrepreneurship which is part of Braille without Borders. 

Thanks!  
Amy C. Phelps  
410-737-2642

Follow us: Facebook - BISM Youth Programs 
Twitter @BISM_Youth

Help sponsor our youth program activities Donate 



"...given proper training and opportunity, the average blind person can do the average job in the average place of business and do it as well as his or her sighted neighbor..." Freedom for the Blind, James H. Omvig
Confidentiality Note:  The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.


-----Original Message-----
From: Marguerite Woods [mailto:mwoods719 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 6:21 PM
To: marsha hitch; eboni0406; jinetgreg; babs4444; Lachele Kellam; CYNTHIA MACKINNON; chrisgordon54; Amy Phelps; Shirley Riffle; Marco Carranza; Judithallwood at gmail.com; Holland, Deborah A; medaniely; DROLMA2011; P Lukkette Laksana; Lula Remy-Heath; kingsleyx razak; MARILYN ATTEBERRY; TIFFANY CULJIS; Stacye Garnes-Waluyn; Sheila Aur; vcjen
Subject: Fwd:2nd time - FYI: Article in Today's paper..

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Marguerite Beatrice WOODS <marguerite2011 at iiseconnect.org>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:30:31 +0530
Subject: FYI: Article in Today's paper..

Today's Paper » FEATURES » METRO PLUS
September 29, 2011

Woman of courage
Share  ·   print   ·   T+

Focus Marguerite Woods did not let her loss of vision bog her down



M arguerite Woods' story is a tale of courage. An African American, Marguerite, who holds a degree in electronics, was working as a senior technical specialist in a telecommunications company in the United States (in the nineties), when she began experiencing a loss in vision because of a rare disease, when she was in her late fifties.

"I don't know whether you have experienced or been near anyone who has lost their vision. I was totally devastated. I couldn't breathe. I had frequent anxiety attacks. From simple things like picking up my clothing to so many things that one takes for granted, I had to depend on someone. I was defeated," says Marguerite.

But a plucky Marguerite found a way to overcome her circumstances. "I had to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone. I had to first accept what I was and then decide where I wanted to go."

She underwent a training programme at the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. She also drew on her deep spiritual faith.

"I was not a stranger to the concepts of self-awareness and self-development. They had always fascinated me. Now I found them to be of greater relevance. I could not change my circumstance but I could choose how to relate to it."

Marguerite became a volunteer at the National Federation of the Blind.
She worked with small and large teams using exercises that enhanced self-awareness and relationships with self and others.

Student of IISC

When Marguerite heard about the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurship (IISC) in Kerala, she wanted to join to learn how to create a social programme for African American women. She is currently a student on the campus of IISC at Vellayani. This is her first visit to India, although she says she has a romantic relationship with this country, inspired as she is by the inherent spirituality and philosophies of India.

Marguerite did her internship at Terumo Penpol. She is helping to develop a mentoring programme for the employees and how to fully utilise the counselling centre.

Marguerite may not be able to see the things that we see everyday but she sees the big picture. I had to first accept what I was and then decide where I wanted to go

Thanks & Regards

 Baby P.S
Public Relations Officer

 TERUMO PENPOL Ltd.

T C 9/1330(15),
Sasthamangalam P.O
Trivandrum - 695 010

Tel Office: +91-471- 3015-602
Res:     +91-471- 2553-792
Mob:   +91-93880-22400

Email:   baby at terumopenpol.com
Web:    www.terumopenpol.com



Best regards,
Marguerite