Sao Mai Education Fund

The  SAO MAI  Education Fund   was established in December 2002 by Amedeo Pignatelli and Carlo Pizzato.

Amedeo Pignatelli

When the Bung Sang Computer Project was completed  (in December 2001) and the SAO MAI Computer Center for the Blind was set up  and operating,  we decided to create a Fund to support computer education for the blind and assist the Center activities.

Carlo Pizzato

Our approach is to focus on computer classes and research, but for some time we also contributed to operating costs, such as power, telephone, Internet and tuition allowance for the blind trainers.

Scholarships are for blind who wish to attend computer training at the Center or for independent study and research. Blind-to-blind training can reach quite advanced levels, such as accessing Internet resources, printing books in Braille, writing Jaws scripts or producing a CD. When the students go back to their place of origin they can teach other blind and help reduce the Digital Divide.

We encourage blind computer users to research and study on various topics, such as Linux environment,  the Internet, or software for blind children to develop cognitive skills.

The Sao Mai Education Fund operates in collaboration with Italian NGOs Associazione Mantovan  (Bolzan, Italy) and Associazione Italia Vietnam (Veneto Region, Italy).

Mantovan Association will provide receipt of donation for tax purposes when contributions are received  in the Association bank account.