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 know the right words to use in public. But the training has helped him realize that being visually impaired, does not give one the liberty to spit words peppered with anger, to attract sympathy. He now knows how to choose his words, when in need of help or in public.
Rose Alur, Janet’s mother was thrilled when I called her to find out about her daughter’s new skills. Her voice was full of hope. She appealed for more skills training; confessing that her daughter is livelier, and more confident.
After the conversations, I realized that not only did we activate business interests in the minds of some of the students, but also changed the negative perception of some of the community members about the blind and visually impaired, and what they can, or cannot do.
Being blind or visually impaired is very challenging in Uganda; because there are few schools that are blind inclusive. Besides, family and community support is limited and inconsistent.
Oysters & Pearls-Uganda understands what it means to be blind or visually impaired, in a community or country that is not so supportive of this category of people. That is why every term, as other regular students break for holidays, we keep the blind and visually impaired for two weeks, and teach them life skills such as laying beds, organizing utensils and furniture in the house, ironing and sewing. The majority of the students say they had never done these things because their family members did not teach them nor even believe that they can actually do it.
Ralph Musiime holds his 2017 Jaws- Certificate
The goodbye I shared with each of the students at the end of our interface was warm and accompanied by sincere smiles. It was gratifying to feel their enthusiasm as they requested for more skills training like bakery, and social life, in subsequent trainings.
I look forward to future testimonials, as Oysters & Pearls-Uganda continues to train more students to be independent.
Although only students of Gulu High School benefit from the holidays training, visually impaired and blind students from across the country get an opportunity to learn such skills during our annual tech camp.
For the past three years, Oysters & Pearls has trained more than one hundred blind and visually impaired students in life skills.
