Caroline Ayugi

I recently interacted with the blind and visually impaired students from different parts of northern Uganda, who have undergone life skills training by Oysters & Pearls- Uganda.

It was an exciting moment seeing the contented, joyful and optimistic faces of the students of Gulu High School, who each talked passionately about their acquired life skills, and future plans.

Janet Lalam is a S.3 student. Through the training, she got the opportunity to use a needle for the first time. Janet comes from Kiryandongo district; 122 kilometers from Gulu town. Before the training, Janet’s sister stitched her torn clothes. Not anymore!

After her first training last month, Janet made sure that she stitched a bathing sponge made of loofah, before all her family members, and some neighbors. With a full smile that was obviously drawn right from the bottom of her heart, Janet boasted that she didn’t only leave onlookers dumbfounded by her sewing ability, but also enjoyed some moment of fame.

Susan Adoch Angel comes from Omoro district; located 31 kilometers to the East of Gulu town. Angel learnt how to make padded purses and bags. She plans to start making purses for sale during holidays, to raise money for buying scholastic materials, and other basic requirements.

Jolly Joe Ocen did not

A decade ago, Paul Kinyera Okumu was engrossed in his career as a teacher. Suddenly, he got an infection in his left eye. Despite several consultations with eye specialists; he was not given a definitive diagnosis. The infection spread to his right eye, and he gradually became visually impaired.

Paul only sees blurry vision at a distance of two meters. He is unable to read.

His poor sight greatly affected his career as a teacher at Atanga Secondary School in Pader district, northern Uganda.

“Since I cannot read, I had to keep asking fellow teachers to mark assignments, exams and assess my students, so I became a burden to them. Enforcing discipline of students became impossible because they knew I could not recognize and administer punishment to them.”

Paul continues to experience hardship in his day-to-day life.

“The phone has become a necessity. But each time I want to use it, I have to borrow someone’s eyes.”

Paul’s social life has also been affected because he cannot recognize people he once knew, and unintentionally passes by without saying hello.

“Many accuse me that I have become proud and anti-social. Those I was once friends with, and know how my problem started have abandoned me. They don’t call me as they used to. I have become

I was pursuing a diploma course in Procurement and Logistics management at an Institution in Gulu, Uganda in 2014. Under the care of a single mother, my dream was to study hard, get a job, and relieve her of part of the financial burden she faces daily.

However in 2014, I started losing hope, when an eye infection blurred my vision. While walking around during day, I could feel like I was going to fall in a pit. At night, I could see an illuminated horizon, but beside me, was darkness.

The numerous visits to the eye clinic at the government hospital did not improve my condition. I became disheartened, when each of the three specialists I consulted gave a different diagnosis.

All the tablets and eye drops prescribed did not help. By the end of 2015, I completely lost my sight, and was plunged into total darkness.

It took time for my family members to believe that I had lost my sight. At table, I would spill food when serving. My only sister thought I was becoming a mean brother, who wanted to bother her with more chores. When it was time for going to the garden and I said I could not do it, my mother assumed that I