International Braille Contest News
2021-03-09: Withdrawal from the implementation of the International Braille Contest due to COVID-19 restrictions
We regret to inform that due to the COVID-19 epidemic in 2021 and restrictions introduced in the countries of the project Partners, we were forced to withdraw from the implementation of the "International Braille Contest 2020 for the Visegrad blind community" and to terminate the grant agreement with the International Visegrad Fund. We would like to thank all Partners, our allies and IVF for supporting our initiative and cooperation to date.
We can only hope that in the near future the situation in our countries will stabilize so that we will be able to re-apply with all Partners for the organization of the new edition of the International Braille Contest.
The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
2020-04-30: The final of the International Braille Contest postponed to 2021!
The project "International Braille Contest 2020 for the Visegrad blind community" began to be implemented according to the schedule, i.e. from 01.01.2020. Until now, the Beneficiary, De Facto and the Project Partners (Czech Blind United, Praha, Czech Republic; IT Foundation for the Visually Impaired (INFOALAP), Budapest, Hungary and Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union, Bratislava, Slovakia) have started to carry out work related to the preparation of national qualifications and organization of the final of the International Braille Contest in Budapest on 14.05.2020. Only the Hungarian partner managed to carry out the national round of the International Braille Contest 2020 this year.
In the current situation caused by the COVID-19 epidemic and measures taken by the national governments, the Beneficiary and the Project Partners cannot implement all national eliminations of the contest planned for March/April 2020. The final of the International Braille Contest planned and already arranged partly on 14.05.2020 in Budapest is in this situation also impossible.
Therefore, De Facto kindly requested the International Visegrad Fund for the possibility of prolonging the project implementation period up to 18 months, i.e. to carry out the final event of the International Braille Contest on 15.04.2021. All project partners were also in favor of this solution.
Finally, the Visegrad Fund informed us that the Council of Ambassadors approved our request for prolongation of the implementation period of our project and conducting the final of International Braille Contest next year.
Please be patient and follow our website next year.
2020-04-20: National Round of International Braille Contest 2020 in Hungary concluded!
On March 14th, 2020 the National Round of the International Braille Contest 2020 in Hungary was held in Budapest. Please see full report here: HUNGARIAN NATIONAL ELECTRONIC BRAILLE CONTEST 2020
2019-12-20: The date of the International Braille Contest 2020 is set
We are happy to announce that the International Braille Contest 2020 will be organised May 13-15, 2020 in Budapest, Hungary. Thanks to the IVF support, in 2020 we will be able to invite blind contestants from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The finalists of the International Braille Contest 2020 will be selected during the national qualifying rounds in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland and trained on how to effectively use the Braille ICT devices before the final event.
More information coming soon! Please stay in touch and get ready for the Contest!
The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
We would also like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
2019-08-27: Braille Contest with the support of IVF for the third time
We are happy to announce that the Mazovian Association for the Disabled Employment “De Facto” have received funding from the International Visegrad Fund to organise the 2020 Braille Contest edition. Thanks to the IVF support, in 2020 we will be able to invite blind contestants from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
We are looking forward to the sixth edition of the Contest and even more exciting competition! More information coming soon!
Please stay in touch and get ready for the Contest!
2018-05-21: The fifth International Braille Contest 2018 in Poznań concluded!
The final event of the “International Braille Contest 2018 for the Visegrad blind community” was held on the 17th of May 2018 in Poznań, Poland. It was attended by 9 blind participants from Czech, Hungary and Poland, who had been previously selected in the national qualifiers.
The full report with photo session from this event is available below .
2018-05-16: The date of the final event of the International Braille Contest 2018 approaches fast!
After the finalists of the International Braille Contest 2018 had been selected during the national qualifying rounds in Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland and trained on how to effectively use the Braille ICT devices, all Project Partners and contestants are getting ready for the final competition event that will be held in Poznań on 17th May 2018. “De Facto” Association coordinates the Project.
Nine blind contestants from V4 countries will be able to verify their Braille reading, writing and editing skills using pocket-size Braille terminals and iPhones. Thanks to the support of the International Visegrad Fund and the Polish company – Harpo, valuable prizes are waiting for the winners! The contest will be followed by socializing activities such as Poznań Old Town sightseeing and a gala dinner with the award ceremony.
2018-05-16: National Round of International Braille Contest in Poland concluded!
On May 16th, 2018 the National Round of the International Braille Contest 2018 in Poland was held in Poznań. Please see full report here .
2018-04-30: National Round of International Braille Contest in Hungary concluded!
On April 21st, 2018 the National Round of the International Braille Contest 2018 in Hungary was held in Budapest. Please see full report here:
2018-04-16: Czech National Round of International Braille Contest concluded!
On April 14th, 2018 the Czech National Round of the Electronic Braille Contest 2018 is now over. Please see full report here:
2018-03-23: Polish Braille Contest participants getting ready for the final event!
On 15-16 May 2018 the city of Poznań will host a national round of the Braille Contest. The blind participants from Poland are going to verify their Braille reading, writing and editing skills using Braille terminals and iOS devices. Afterwards the winners will be provided a training using the ICT devices, that shall help them get ready for the final international competition event to be held in Poznań on the 17th of May. The event is organized by the Mazovian Association for the Disabled Employment “De Facto”.
Contact person: Mr. Jerzy Myszak, e-mail: zarzad@defacto.org.pl , phone: +48243668676.
2018-03-21: Hungarian Qualifying round of the International Braille Contest, supported by the Visegrad Fund
As part of the International Braille Contest, sponsored by the Visegrad Fund, on the 21st of April Hungarian contestants will present their knowledge in four disciplines: reading, writing, textediting and sharing the results in e-mail. They will use cellphones and Braille displays to solve the exercises. The Hungarian National Contest will be organised by the IT Foundation for the visually Impaired (INFOALAP). The three best participants can travel to Poznan, to present their skills during the International Braille Contest, together with Czech and Polish finalists. The International Braille Contest will be held between the 16th and the 18th of May in Poznan, Poland. The aim of the contest is to show the international blind community and the sighted audience that Braille, combined with tools of the modern technology is a great way to communicate. Braille has its own place in the IT-based society too, and it can be a bridge between blind communities of the Middle European region.
Contact person: Krisztina Balázs, e-mail: balazs.krisztina@infoalap.hu , phone: +36-30-564-7339.
2018-03-19: Czech Contestants Competing in the National Round of Visegrad Electronic Braille Reading & Writing Race 2018
On April 14, 2018, capital city of Prague, the Czechlands, welcomes eight accomplished Braillists attending National Electronic Braille Contest sponsored by International Visegrad Fund. Three winners will participate together with their Hungarian and Polish peers in the International Visegrad-sponsored Event to be held in Poznan, Poland in mid-May. The contestants are going to hone their Braille reading, writing and editing skills using pocket-size Braille terminals and iPhones. The overall aim of the Visegrad-sponsored project is to promote Braille literacy and to demonstrate the importance of reading and writing skills for education and employment opportunities of the blind in the 21st century. The National Event is organized by Czech Blind United, the Czech representative organization of the blind, full member of the European Blind Union.
Contact person: Jan Urbánek, e-mail: urbanek@sons.cz , phone: +420 603 710 531.
2018-01-05: Braille Contest with the support of IVF for the second time
We are happy to announce that the Mazovian Association for the Disabled Employment “De Facto” have received funding from the International Visegrad Fund to organize the 2018 Braille Contest edition. Thanks to the IVF support, in 2018 we will be able to invite blind contestants from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
We are looking forward to the fifth edition of the Contest! More information coming soon!
2016-05-21: Look at the final report from the Fourth International Braille Contest in Prague
The final event of the “International Braille Contest 2016 for the Visegrad blind community” was held on the 30th April 2016 in Prague. It was attended by 10 blind participants from Poland, Czech and Slovakia, who had been previously selected in the national qualifiers.
Look for the full report here .
2016-04-21: The date of the final event of the International Braille Contest approaches fast!
After the finalists of the International Braille Contest 2016 had been selected during the national qualifying rounds in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland and trained on how to effectively use the Braille ICT devices, all Project Partners and contestants are getting ready for the final competition event that will be held in Prague on 30th April 2016. “De Facto” Association coordinates the Project.
Ten blind contestants from V4 countries will be able to verify their Braille reading, writing and editing skills using pocket-size Braille terminals and iPhones. Thanks to the support of the International Visegrad Fund and the Polish company – Harpo, valuable prizes are waiting for the winners! The contest will be followed by socializing activities such as Prague sightseeing, visit to the Czech Senate and a gala dinner with the award ceremony.
2016-04-07: Polish Braille Contest participants getting ready for the final event
On April 9, 2016, the Polish city of Płock will host a national round of the Braille Contest. The blind participants are going to verify their Braille reading, writing and editing skills using Braille terminals and iOS devices. The winners will be provided a training on 11.04.2016 using the ICT devices, that shall help them get ready for the final international competition event to be held in Prague on the 30th of April. The event is organized by the Mazovian Association for the Disabled Employment “De Facto”.
Contact person: Mr. Jerzy Myszak, e-mail: defacto.org@wp.pl , phone: +48243668676
2016-04-05: Work with short Braille display contest in Slovakia
On April 7, 2016, city of Levoca, Slovakia, welcomes 4 Braille Contest finalists at their warming-up training for the international Visegrad event in late April. The training consist of reading, writing and editing text using Braille displays and iPods. The aim of the contest is to stress the importance of using the Braille literacy together with the newest IT solutions. The training event is organized by "Fund of help" Levoča, helping the blind people in Slovakia.
Contact person: Mgr. Eva Veghova, e-mail: veghova@azet.sk , phone: +421903858763
2016-02-24: Czech Contestants Getting Ready for Visegrad
Electronic Braille Reading & Writing Competition 2016
On March 5, 2016, capital city of Prague, the Czechlands, welcomes four National Electronic Braille Contest finalists at their warming-up training for the international Visegrad event to be held in late April. The contestants are going to hone their Braille reading, writing and editing skills using pocket-size Braille terminals and iPhones. The overall aim of the Visegrad-sponsored project is to promote Braille literacy and to demonstrate the importance of reading and writing skills for employment opportunities of the blind in the 21st century. The training event is organized by Czech Blind United, the Czech representative organization of the blind, full member of the European Blind Union.
Contact person Jan Urbánek, e-mail: urbanek@sons.cz , CellPhone: +420603710 531
2015-12-22: Braille Contest edition supported by the IVF
We are happy to announce that the Mazovian Association for the Disabled Employment “De Facto” have received funding from the International Visegrad Fund to organize the 2016 Braille Contest edition. Thanks to the IVF support, in 2016 we will be able to invite blind contestants not only from the Czech Republic and Poland but also from Slovakia. A Hungarian Partner will also be one of the NGOs organizing the final event, so that the Hungarian contestants could join us in the future editions.
We are looking forward to this now even more exciting competition! Please stay in touch and get ready for the Contest!
2013-10-01: Braille Contest to be held on November 10, 2013
This year the International Braille Contest is going to be held at Hotel Alpin Avion in Prague. Participants from Poland and Czech Republic are going to compete in writing, reading and formatting in Braille using EasyLink 12 and BraillePen 12 devices connected to Apple iOS devices.
Looking forward to the exciting competition!
The Project is supported by the
International Visegrad Fund.
All information on the IVF can be found at