Frequently Asked Questions

Light of Letters is a Pune-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering children with visual impairment (CVI) through technology-driven educational solutions. We collect refurbished smartphones, load them with specialized assistive and accessibility apps, and donate them FREE OF COST to CVI students. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide and ensure every child has access to quality education, regardless of their visual abilities.

Siddhant Sathe, 16, founded Light of Letters after witnessing the devastating impact that sudden vision loss can have on children's educational futures. Moved by stories of children in Indian villages who lost their sight in accidents, Siddhant envisioned a world where education remains accessible to all children, regardless of ability or location. His passion drives our commitment to transforming lives through technology.

Our unique approach centers on device-first service delivery specifically for CVI students. Unlike traditional donation models, we focus on collecting smartphone donations, transforming them into powerful educational tools loaded with accessibility apps. What sets us apart is our commitment to transparency—we connect donors directly with recipients when possible and encourage ongoing volunteer engagement. The device is just the beginning; our goal is to provide comprehensive, long-term educational support.

We have built a robust verification system to ensure only qualifying CVI students receive donated devices. Through partnerships with organizations working alongside Anganwadi and ASHA workers, we maintain a comprehensive database of CVI students and assist them in obtaining Government of India UDID (Unique Disability Identity) cards. Our commitment to transparency means we can introduce donors to recipients and encourage ongoing volunteer support throughout the child's educational journey.

Yes, through our innovative Train-the-Trainer (TTT) model. We conduct specialized workshops for educators at schools for the blind—many of whom are visually impaired themselves. These trained educators learn our comprehensive app ecosystem and become expert facilitators, teaching students how to maximize each accessibility tool. This sustainable approach ensures continuous, peer-to-peer support and creates a multiplier effect in our impact.

Each device comes loaded with a carefully curated ecosystem of accessibility tools, including:

• Screen readers for navigation

• Text-to-speech applications

• OCR (Optical Character Recognition) apps for reading printed text

• Accessible e-book apps with access to over 1 million titles

• Speech-to-text and dictation tools

• Messaging applications for communication

This comprehensive suite transforms smartphones into powerful educational companions.

Launched in 2024, Light of Letters currently serves the Pune district. Our network grows daily as we forge partnerships with like-minded organizations and expand our beneficiary database. While we're actively planning expansion to nearby districts and eventually nationwide coverage, we already accept device donations from anywhere in India through our mail-in program.

We welcome volunteers in many capacities! Beyond helping us collect refurbished smartphones, you can contribute through:

• Audio recording educational lessons and study materials

• Technology development, particularly AI applications for converting books to accessible DAISY format

• Ongoing mentorship and educational support for our beneficiaries

• Community outreach and awareness building

Your skills and passion can help us provide comprehensive, continuing services to the students we serve.

We'd love to hear from you! Email us at lightofletters2024@gmail.com and we'll get back to you promptly.