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Deutsches Katholisches Blindenwerk (DKBW)
The DKBW (Deutsches Katholisches Blindenwerk) is a global acting non-profit organization for the blind and officially recognized by the German Bishops’ Conference. It forms the central association of the regional offices located in different states in Germany. These regional offices (the Katholische Blindenwerke) are all independent associations, however,as central association, the DKBW feels responsible for undertaking such actions which cannot be successfully accomplished by the Katholische Blindenwerke. Therefore, the DKBW has created several institutions to serve the blind in Germany, German speaking countries as well as all around the world – whoever needs help gets help. This does not stricktly include blind people but also visually impaired or death-blind children and adults, too.
One of these institutions is the audio-book library, where books are recorded onto CDs and lent to its library members. The library offers a huge range of world literature, magazines, text books or religious literature, available in Braille print, as download or Daisy-CD. German-speaking people living abroad may also apply for the library to receive literature. Under the commission of the DKBW, the following newspapers are also produced, which appear monthly or bi-monthly: Lux Vera, St. Raphael, Feierstunden, L’Osservatore Romano. Additionally the breviary of the Catholic Church is also being produced.
Furthermore, the DKBW operates a Braille printing publishing house, which has been founded in the mid 19th century. Equipped with latest Braille printers, it produces Braille books, magazines and calendras for the blind. It covers a wide range of literary genres, e.g. belletristic, crime, biographies, childrens literatur and many more. The publishing house also produces religious texts in German as well as foreign languages (Braille). All expenses are covered by the DKBW (E-Mail: info@pader-braille.de
The DKBW supplies a diversified aid also in those countries where the Catholic Church cares for the blind. In Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe a number of schools, residential schools, rehabilitation centers and other gathering sites for the blind have been established with the help of the DKBW in the spirit of the Church.
In its international activities, the DKBW is maintaining contacts with other international organizations, which are located in the project areas in order to supervise the realisation of each project.
Groups or organizations desiring to ask for DKBW’s help can apply for it directly: info@dkbw.de