Results of the 2019 Onkyo World Braille Essay Contest

The Onkyo World Braille Essay Contest is a worldwide initiative planned and sponsored by Onkyo Corporation and The Braille Mainichi, two Japanese firms actively engaged in the promotion of braille. Its European strand is run by the European Blind Union.

The 2019 edition of the essay contest received a total of 28 essays by participants from 11 countries. This is less than in previous years due to the late launch of this year's competition.

There was however a reasonable gender balance, with 15 essays from male participants, and 13 from female participants, and also noteworthy is that this year's Otsuki First Prize winner is 88 years old!

The authors of the winning essays receive prizes made available by Onkyo and Braille Mainichi.

EBU is proud to present below the full list of prize winners.

Otsuki First Prize:

My Saviour by Tamara ANDREEVA (Russia)

Excellent Works Prize:

Senior Category: Nan SNARHEIM, (Norway) The myth of old fashioned braille – a technological dead end

Fine Works Prize:

Junior Category:

Borys KOWALCZYK, (Poland) Braille in Music and Art

Senior Category:

Alan DECOPPET, (Switzerland) The future of Braille

Ángeles LAFUENTE DE FRUTOS, (Spain) First Year Braille Class

All the essays can be downloaded from the EBU ONKYO Braille Contest page.