2009 Moving China candidates: Susan international friends –Tan Baken

Susan Tan Baken, born in 1970 in Germany, was once Ru Boen university training in Tibetan studies, Private Schools, "Braille Without Borders" organization's founder.
She was 12 years old blind, but now regarded as a guide for blind children in Tibet and the angels.  In leading the child to lose a bright new understanding of self and find self-confidence, she also realized the value of your life.

Tibetan Braille invented
After graduating from high school, Susan smoothly into college, majoring in the Central Asian language, that is, Mongolian, Chinese, ancient and modern Tibetan.  In the Tibetan language class, she is only a blind student class, and at that time, the Tibetan language is not designed for the blind Braille, Susan Tibetan Braille on their own design.  She was only for the convenience of their own learning, to create did not think that there will be little value.  Her design is the world's only Tibetan Braille, learning the Tibetan language for the future, all volunteers provided a convenient blind friend.

Building School for the Blind in Tibet
Susan travel to Tibet in 1997 she rode through parts of Tibet, found here, little access to education for blind children, they sprouted to stay in Tibet for the blind to create the idea of educational opportunities.

November 2000 Susan established in cooperation with the Tibet Disabled Persons Federation blind rehabilitation and vocational training centers operational.  The Centre have opened a training center for blind children prepared, a Braille book printing plant, a blind self-integrated vocational training center and a farm.  So far there have been here 96 blind acceptance of the daily living skills training and Tibetan, Chinese, or English language, basic education, Braille, as well as massage, computer, hand-weaving, making cheese, art and other vocational skills training.  Children living in the training center is also very fun learning initiative.  After two years of specialized training in general these children can enter the regular school, a number of blind children into regular school, excellent academic achievement.

Everest
To stimulate children's potential, in 2004 invited the first to climb Everest Susan blind ????? Mel and his climbing team to guide the blind in Tibet Himalayas are to a peak altitude of 7,000 meters launched challenge.  After careful preparation, Susan wife and six blind children, led by Eric successful in climbing to the height of 6500 meters above sea level.

Since 2000, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Disabled Persons Federation in cooperation projects to help blind since her education and rehabilitation of the blind in Tibet has made great contributions to the cause, and therefore the Chinese government was awarded the 2006 "Friendship Award."