How They Made It!

A blind female lawyer, a blind Journalist,a TV newscaster and University graduates share their real life stories with 300 visually impaired students of how they made it to the top in spite of all the odds that were against them.The visually impaired mentors testified that disability is not inability

Akropong- Ghana- The 9th of July 2011 was a turning point in the lives of the visually impaired students on our project at the Akropong School For the Blind when a group stormed their campus.The team were a blind female lawyer-Evelyn Appiah, a blind Journalist –Paul Anomakodea, a TV newscaster-Abdu Moomin and University students/graduates. Their mission was simple and sacred- to share their real life stories with the blind students on how they made it to the top in spite of all the odds that were against them. Their real life stories and experiences were meant to inspire the youngsters to break their own boundaries and to aspire for greater achievements in life.

What were their stories?
Among other real life testimonies of the senior visually impaired folks was the common fact many people look down on them just because they are blind. Many would not give them the opportunity to work even when they are highly qualified. ‘Despite the negative perceptions and how people treated me I was not discouraged in pursuing my goal’ shared Evelyn Appiah, the female lawyer. From orientation challenges to negative attitudes from some sighted persons she has remained focused, worked hard and persevere to attain the height she is today.Despite the challenges she persevered and climbed the ladder. She advised students to stay away from pre-marital sexual relationships and focus on working hard at school and passing she answered several questions raised by students about Law.

Using his own life story as an example Paul Anomakodea a TV news reader, challenged the students to envision beyond their their blindness, to aim high, work hard and persevere at all times. ‘Where I am today many sighted people may never be there’ says Paul. ‘Learn every time’ he encouraged the students. He also encouraged students to 'keep on learning all the time' and be abreast with time, and that, they should be more than ready to exploit opportunities that may come their way. According to him, programmes like this should be valued more than material gifts.

The speakers outlined their major challenges to be social stigmatization, neglects, low-self esteem at the initial stages but they had to come out of their comfort zones to make it to where are now.

The story behind the program
Research findings by Greight Foundation (A registered non-Profit organisation dedicated to Research, Advocacy and Empowerment) suggest that girls and boys from difficult backgrounds including youth who are physically challenged, come from low income-families, live with single parents and those living in rural communities often have poor self-image and lack the self-confidence to pursue their dreams in life and most of the time unable to realize their full potential in life.

In response to this the Foundation works to inspire, motivate and challenge girls and boys in this category through its empowerment program– ‘Train- Coach-Mentor’ Project. The project seeks to train youth in Leadership and Social Change Initiatives and provide mentoring mentoring and life coaching support for people engaging in Social Change Initiatives in their communities around the world. Girls and boys from difficult backgrounds in Ghana, Nepal, Kenya and Zambia are currently participating and benefitting from this project.

In October, 2010 the Foundation organized an Empowerment and Leadership training for 20 girls and 10 boys at the Akropong School for The Blind challenging the students to engage actively in Social Change Initiatives to bring change in their communities.
This recent programme was a follow up and another way of supporting the boys and girls as they dream, create and take action to bring change to their lives, families, communities, country and generation.

What was the outcome?
‘I had quite an experience today… I was inspired. It was great and inspiring’ says Agness who participated in the program.

Deborah who participated in the program last year had this to say ‘When I became blind, I thought the world had come to an end but from I have learnt today I can make it with determination’.

For 20 years old Blessing Henebeng who participated in the programme, ‘listening to the stories of the mentors gave me hope that I can still achieve my dream of becoming a Journalist.’

Girls Talk about Building Self-Confidence

Our Girls in Mitumba Primary school- a small community school in Mitumba slums, Nairobi-Kenya discuss building self-confidence and how they can inititate change in their communities.

Courage they say is the absence of fear, which is one of the words the girls at Mitumba use to describe Self-confidence. Many Girls and even much older women as well as elders have low self-esteem on a daily basis. The thought of having to face the crowd, speak in public whiles eyes glued to you the speaker and every ear attentive to listen was the topic of discussions on the 22nd Of June,2011 at Mitumba Community Primary School at 3.00 pm.

The session just as the preceding one was delayed due the waits occasioned by “African timing.”The day was extremely cold as the month of July was slowly beckoning. I took this time to marvel at the beauty endowed in this vast environment, the potential that the students retain was another encouraging factor.

Soon the time came, Thirty (30) minutes later the girls had all assembled in one of the classes which has now become a standard meeting point. As a recap we all had to reintroduce each other but this time the platform and approach would be different. The introduction would be in front of the class while facing the rest of the class. The reception was baffling most of the girls were resistant to the idea. To break the ice we had to do the Knowing me Knowing you session but as a familiarization concept for the topic – Self confidence.

“Can someone describe the meaning of the word Self – Confidence?”

“Teacher (referring to our coordinator) - It is being bold, courageous, strong, sure, being forward or being strong”These were just but afew of the responses derived from the question asked. The next was to discuss the importance of being self – confident.
This was a prelude to the main menu of discussion and interaction for the day. The menu included self-introduction and why they liked being in school.

Some of the girls were shy and many could not keep eye-contact. The voices of some also shook as they spoke. It was emphasized that self-confidence was an important part of life and girls should endeavor to stand up, be bold,speak up and take action to bring change to their lives, families and communities.

As a facilitator many thoughts poured as I left the girls-how different will it be today would it be if we had all of this inculcated in our school curriculum…..it remains just that a thought especially after having to learn everything the hard way!