Miss Genevive Caulfield A Beacon In The Dark
It has been demonstrated blindness is not an obstacle towards the education of blind persons. Miss Caulfield, an American
blind lady, disclosed to the blind people of Thailand the world of education and devoted almost half of her life-time to the
development of the blind of Thailand.
Miss Caulfield belongs to that group of people who are strongly determinen to help fellow-human beings, especially the blind
who are generally seen as a burden for family and society.
She worked strenuously to improve the abilities and quality of life of the blind in order to reclaim their rightful dignity of persons.
Moreover she stressed the concept that blind people instead of being regarded as burdens for society can fruitfully contribute to it.
Miss Caulfiled was born in Safford, Virginia, on May 8, 1888 : she lost her sight when she was two
months old due to a chemical accident.
When she was seven years old a young ophthalmologist from Nashville suggested she undergo an iridectomy. Following the
surgery she regained some sight in her right eye. It was really much, but enough to let her distinguish shapes and let her relare with
others and the environment more comfortably.
Her childhood development was not different from that of other children of the same age. Her parents were very supportive and
young Genevieve didn't make a nuisance of herself because of her disability.
She attended the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston, the moved to the Overbrook School in Philadelphia and finally to the
Trinity College in Washington, D.C., obtaining her bachelor degree from New York University.
Witnessing the discrimination that children of Japanese descent faced at the time in the USA, she dreamed of becoming a
teacher in the Far East to help improve mutual understanding between the Americans and the Asians, especially Japanese.
She tried her best to collect all possible information about Japan in order to get an in-depth knowledge of that country and its people.
Her secret dream was to travel to Japan and be a teacher there in order to give her small contribution to the understanding between
the Japanese and the Americans.
She had to wait 15 years before her dream could come true : meanwhile she attended additional teaching training coused,
continued her quest for information about Japan, but most of all tried to relate to Japanese people living in the USA.
She came in contact Japanese civil servants and businessmen that at the time were quite numerous. She used to teach English
to them at the same time that she would study their characters, their traditions and their language.
When finally everything was set, she traveled, alone, to Japan in 1923 with the encouragement of many people, especially
Japanese ones, who had come to be acquainted with her.
At long last her dream was treu : she was in Tokyo, in Japan. To live in a foreign land is always a challenge for anybody, even
more for a blind person. Miss Caulfield had to use all her energy, knowledge and abilities to have her dream fulfilled.
Friendship was very important to her, especially in a foreign land. She spent her life in Tokyo not only as a teacher of English
but also as a student of the Japanese Institute of Social and Political Studies. She visited other cities and towns of japan with the aim
of fostering the right understanding between American and Japanese people.
She was well accepted by her students of English and was able to earn a good income, till she could bring her mother to live
with her in Japan.
When she felt the time was right she adopted a Japanese girl, Haruko, and encouraged her education : she was given
dress-making training by a French tutor.
The occupation of Manchuria by the Japanese Army had its negative influence on foreigners living in Japan, including
Miss Caulfield.
Although she was allowed to continue to teach, the environment became more and more oppressive, so at last she
decided to leave Japan.
Being well acquainted with the people of Asia and liking it, she opted not to go back to the States but to remain in Asia.
Providentially she met a Belgian catholic preest, Fr. Eylenbosch, who introduced a young Thai man to Ms.Caulfield and told her
about Thailand. From this moment on the interest of Miss Caulfield towards Thailand began to increase. She met in Tokyo
Dr.Phon Saengsinkaew, a psychiatrist at Somdech Chao Phraya Hospital in Bangkok : this was a decisive opportunity for
Miss.Caulfield.
Dr.Phon offered his help and influenec to MissCaulfied had she decided to go to Thailand and start a school for the blind there,
since there was no education available to the blind thre at the time.
In 1936 Miss Caulfield met in Tokyo the then Minister of Interior of Thailand : he also encouraged her to go to Thailand and start
some work for the blind.
Finally, together with Haruko, she came to Thailand in order to explore the chances of setting a school for the blind in Bangkok.
She was very received by Dr.Phon, but due to the delicate political situation at the time. the Minister of Interior couldn't offer her any
government help in this project, Reluctantly she had to travel back to Japan, with the determination however to come back to
Thailand and start the work for the blind on her own.
In 1937 Miss Caulfield accompanied bu her mother and Ms. Haruko went back to the States. While Ms. Haruko went to be
trained at the Overbrook school for the blind and at the Lighthouse, Ms. Caulfield was busy lecturing and giving speeches about
Japan around the States. This kind of work provided her wiht the inital funds necessary to start her work in Thailand, In September
1938 she started her journey towards Thailand by ship landing in England. From there she proceeded to France and Italy : While in
Rome she attended an audience and received the blessings of the Holy Father. Boarding a ship in Naples she reached Singapore
and finally reached, by train, Bangkok.
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She was ready at once to start teaching blind children with the basic equipment that the Perkins School for the Blind had
presented her. She used a small house in Soi Saladeng, off Silom Road, as the first school for the blind, helped by Dr. Phonthong,
M.R. Phinthuleka and others.
The beginnings were very hard and full of difficulties because both the Government and the Thai society at the time didn't
understand the importance and didn't support theeducation for the blind. Finding blind students was very hard, but finally the first
student was Her Serene Highness Phawuongphokamas : although blind and deaf she was readily accepted by Miss> Caulfield.
The number of students solwly but steadily increased and finally they were ready to show to the public that education for the
blind was possible : this gained gradual acceptance and help both from government and private sectors. Due to the increased
number of students, the school was moved to a larger house. All the teachers, escept one, were volunteers. Since threr was
enough room, Ms. Caulfield accepted the first boarders. Aruko meanwhile had married a young Japanese officer and businessman
She unfortunately died giving birth to twin-girls : they moved back to Japan with their father.
The Second World War didn't spare the work of Miss, Caulfield : the financial difficulties proved a big stumbling block. The
situation got some respite when the then Prime Minister Gen. PhibulSongkhram and his wife Khunying La-ied lent their help in
assigning a government subsidy to the Bangkok School for the Blind, Since the bombing of the Allied Forces was becoming very
dangerous for the blind students, Miss. Caulfield decided to move them up-country to a safer place. With the help of the Salesians
of Don Bosco, they were lodged on the premises of the Catholic mission of Bangtan and later on, till the end of the war in Hua Hin,
in a rented house next to the Summer Palace of H.M. the King.
At the end of the war, the students were moved back to Bagnkok in house not far from Soi Saladeng. The school and the
Foundation for the blind began to flourish steadily after the war. Miss. Caulfield was planning a trip to Japan to visit former friends
there and above all to witness the wedding of her son-in-law, Mr.Nobu with his new wife, Khunying Mary. Miss, Caulfield asked
the Salesian Sisters to take care of the running of the school in her stead. The Salesian Sisters have taken up faithfully this
commitment from 1947 till a few years ago, when with regret they handed it over to the Foundation for the Blind.
After attending courses at the college of Social Work Miss. Caulfield went back to the United States. In 1952 she came back
to Thailand and was pleasantly pleased to see that the small school she had become a well accepted institution. Moreover
H.E. Phibul Songkhram, as Prime Minister, had been instrumental in assigning a plot of land of 8 Rais as a permanent site for the
Bangkok School for the Blind, She was very proud to witness the gradual acceptance of the abilities of the blind by the Thai
society at large. Miss Caulfied continued to live on the premises of the school and help teach to the blind students. Moreover
she served as adviser both to the school and the Board of Directors of the Foundation. The Foundation was spreading its
roots deeper and deeper under the capable leadership of the members of the Board of Directors that consisted of volunteers
belonging to the best name in the Thai and foreign community present in Bangkok.
Apart from establishing the Bangkok Schook for the blind in Thailand, Ms. Caulfield was requwsted by the then President
of South Vietnam to set up a similar institution there in 1956. Miss Caulfield readily complied and in 1958 the first school for the
blind began its activities catering to blind children attending elementary school. Furing this time Miss Caulfield was commuting
between Thailand, Japan and America quite frequently.
In 1960 Miss Caulfield started the schook for the blind in Chiangmai : later on this school was entrusted to the Ministry of
Education. In this same year she received a decoration from the japanese Government in recognition of her work for the
mutual understanding and peace between the people of Japan and the United States.
In 1961 she was awarded the Magsaysay Prize for international relationship.
In 1963 she received the medal of Freedom from the Govenment of the United States for her contribution to the people of
the world.
In 1965 she was conferred the fifth rank Royal Decoration of the White Elephant by H.M. the King for her selfless work for
the benefit of the blind.
In 1969 she was awarede the Medal of Outstanding Social Worker, First Grade, by the Government of South Vietnam.
Although quite old she contunued in teaching and advising the blind students an the teaching staff of the Bangkok School
for the Blind. At the same time she found ways and scholarships for capable blind students to study abroad.
She initiated the integrated program whereas blind students would study alongside sighted ones especially in high
school and college. She also envisaged vocational training in order to previde teh blind for gainful occupations.
Miss Caulfield believed firmly in the abilities of the blind : given the proper training. they could develop as anybody else,
especially in the field of education. She managed to lead the blind of Thailand from a meaningless life to a bright future
based thanks to her vision and abilities.
She died peacefully at the Camillian Hospital in Bangkok on 12 December 1972 at the age of 84 and was buried in the
Samsen Catholic Cemetery in Bangkok. As a sign of perpetual gratitude her former students erected a monument on the
premises of the Bangkok School for the Blind. This bronze statue, sculptured by the famous artist Meseum Yibinsoy, was
officially unveiled by H.K. Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn on 12 December 1983.
December 12 has been designated by the blind of Thailand as Miss Caulfield Day.
The good endeavors and the fame of Miss Caulfield didn't end with her death. Her confidence in the education for the
blind and the many works for the blind she initiated will be an eternal legacy both for those who had the privilege of knowing
her personally as well as those who benefit from her heritage.
The seed she planted and nurtured with much care has now become a full-grown tree, producing many branches and
capable of offering shade to those who need it.
"60 th Foundation For The Blind In Thailand Under The Patronage Of H.M.The Queen"
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