Welcome note
Dear Friends of UECB, I first of all thank you for your precious time of visiting our Website. My name is Satir Omar Bahati from Rwanda, I do my University studies at the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) in the Faculty of Education. In November 2010, I graduated from Social Entrepreneurship, at the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs (IISE) located in South India visit http://www.bwb-iise.org
I am the Director and Founder of Uwezo Empowerment Centre for the Blind (UECB) located in Kigali Rwanda. In my working experience with the outreach programme for the blind at RUB, I gained an insight into what is behind disparities between the community and blind youth in terms of education, social integration and economic empowerment.
Rwandan blind children and youth have to travel from all parts of the country to the Eastern province, where the only primary school for the blind and an integrated secondary school are located. This has greatly contributed to stigma and discrimination, illiteracy and dependency upon their families. Blind children don't have access to public schools which are free since the schools are not equipped with Braille books and other educational materials. Some blind youth are discriminated against by their families since they are less productive, resulting in street life. Nevertheless, a second primary school for the blind was established in 2009 in the Southern Province. As a Rwanda blind youth representative since 2007 to date, with more than 7 years of experience working with blind children and youth, I took the opportunity of spear-heading the changing the situation of blind youth in Rwanda, towards self esteem and a sustainable development. My appreciations go out to the IISE, for offering me the opportunity to enrich my dream vision of establishing a platform for blind youth in Rwanda. It is with great honour that I introduce to you Uwezo Empowerment Centre for the Blind (UECB), a non-profit, non-governmental organisation driven by bringing a positive change in the lives of blind adolescents in Rwanda.
Uwezo Centre is a platform for integrating blind and partially sighted adolescents in their communities, with possible skills and knowledge, thus enhancing their confidence and independence. The Uwezo Centre is respectfully requesting for your cooperation for the success of our Mainstream Project. As a new project for the inclusion of blind children in mainstream education, we are committed to bringing new innovative ideas to meet emerging needs of blind children in Rwanda. The Mainstream Education for the Blind Project will allow us to pilot a five-year effort to determine if our centre can effectively: - provide intensive one to two year preparatory training of blind children for mainstream education - Enrol blind children in public schools in their respective provinces - Produce and supply educational materials for the blind to integrated public schools. - Organise sensitisation workshops about the integration of blind children to the community. And many more
Your great cooperation is highly welcomed and appreciated.
Sincerely,
The Director & Founder of UECB
Join us in the brightening the future of blind Rwandans!