–to impart knowledge, skills

MOLEMISI Kono, from Kanye Village in Botswana, is here in Guyana for four weeks on a mission to engage persons on the subject of vision impairment.

The 49-year-old, who is here for the first time, has been able to facilitate a workshop at the Guyana Society for the Blind, imparting knowledge on cane skills and pre-cane skills, among other topics. He was trained in England.

Though not suffering a serious vision disability, Kono, who now lives in London, is severely shortsighted.

He is attached to an organization called Visualize Africa International and works as a rehabilitation officer and habilitation specialist for children.

“Habilitation is for children who have never been taught before, and rehabilitation is for adults. I travelled to several parts of Africa for the same mission, engaging people in their communities and, generally, stakeholders who are interested in the subject of vision impairment,” he told the Guyana Chronicle while on a visit at the ‘Society.’

Executive Member of the Society, Ganesh Singh, explained that Kono reached out to the Society and due to his expertise, facilitated the workshop. He was able to provide general knowledge and skills to persons, who in turn, would be able to teach others.

“So, he is training trainers for us. We have such knowledge, but we’re still happy to get it from someone who has been certified and who went through the whole theory and practice of it at a university level,” Singh expressed.

“Most of our people learnt through trial and error and some of them got knowledge from persons who would not have gotten such training. So we want to get it from that perspective and incorporate what we learn with what we already have here,” Singh continued.

Meanwhile, he informed that the ‘Society’ has launched its Orientation and Mobility Programme last March 4 in which it will be providing training for persons who are blind or visually impaired in Regions 3 and 4.

The training will help in the use of the white cane; help persons to navigate their environment by learning how to use the public transportation system; teach them how to walk around their homes and even run errands close by; teach them to use utensils in the home; and how to complete simple tasks, such as household chores.

Singh said two officers are on board to provide the training and that although they are both blind, they are capable of providing the service. A social worker is also on hand to provide counselling. While persons with vision disabilities have to endure many challenges, Singh called attention to the fact that it is also hard on their families.

The training is free and to benefit from it, persons can call 231 7976, or 226 4496. An appointment will be arranged either at the Society or at their home.