“Sightsavers hosted an acclaimed concert and fundraising event for the visually impaired in Mumbai. The “Ability of Disability—A Night of Melody” received full support from HH Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi, member of the royal family of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, for this unique event.”

Sightsavers hosted an acclaimed concert and fundraising event for the visually impaired in Mumbai. The “Ability of Disability—A Night of Melody” received full support from HH Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi, member of the royal family of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, for this unique event. The event featured some cherished performances by the country’s most celebrated recording artists, along with several visually impaired musicians and dancers.

A representative from the organizing committee confirmed the upcoming event and said, “The musical event is organized by Princess Arwa Al Qassimi and the proceeds will help Sightsavers in its mission to eradicate avoidable blindness and provide equal opportunities for people with visual impairments.”

Sightsavers aims to abolish blindness from this developing world through their efforts. As a great supporter of philanthropic activities around the world, Her Highness Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi was pleased to lend her support in getting the event off the ground. All the revenue raised during “Ability of Disability” went directly to the charity, helping to support its approach of education, prevention, healthcare and rehabilitation. In fact Sightsavers has a presence in 17 rural, desert or tsunami-affected states in India, touching the lives of millions of poor residents.

“Ability of Disability” marked the presence of more than 550 guests. The guest list included dignitaries like the Consulate General of the UAE Mohammed Yusuf M Al Awadhi and Dr. Garimella Subramanian, a respected editor of The Hindu along with Elizabeth Kurian and R. N. Mohanty represented the Sightsavers organization.

The concert was all musical thanks to the Celebrity artists Abhijeet Sawant of Indian Idol fame, Hamid Khan and Sangeeta, who all performed to great fanfare. To underscore the purpose of the concert, two of the backup musicians for the singers were visually impaired: Kiran Vinhur on flute and Sachin Gavikar on percussion. Adding to the cause, Sawant publicly announced that he intended to become an eye donor, a show of solidarity that may encourage others to register as organ donors.

Apart from these famous recording artists, UDAAN, a six-member dance troupe of visually impaired boys and girls, was another source of applause. They performed a complicated ethnic Indian dance as the audience looked on in astonishment. Organizers of the night’s activities hoped to show that disabled individuals are equally capable of making meaningful and beautiful contributions to society.

On the whole, “Ability of Disability” was a rousing success, and Sightsavers hopes to build on this positive momentum. The concert generated publicity that helped Sightsavers communicate with millions of people throughout India and the world. Donations to the charity have been on the rise for the past few weeks, and the local press in Mumbai, particularly the Bombay Times, was highly supportive of the event.

Moreover, not only the individual donors but renowned brands like Bright Outdoors, Red FM and Hindu Business Line, one of the nation’s most highly regarded newspapers generously supported Sightsavers. This is just the beginning of a journey as the noble work of Sightsavers is never done, and the organization always welcomes contributions such as that of HH Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi to its mission of ending avoidable blindness.

About Sightsavers

Sightsavers is a leading global development agency working in over 30 countries to combat blindness, restore sight and work for the rights and needs of those with irreversible visual impairment. Sightsavers’ work in India, which started in 1966, has supported the treatment of millions of people with eye disorders and brought eye services to some of the least served areas of the country. In addition, many thousands of irreversibly blind people have received rehabilitation and educational support to enable them to lead lives of independence and dignity.