Broad street downtown Monrovia, is the public square where more than 150 blind and partially sighted persons who traveled from different parts of the country, assembled to observance World White Cane Safety Day on 15th of October 2020. Approximately 210 students (senior high) from seven other schools from both public and private joined the parade in solidarity with the blind in the celebration.
The parade was led by band unit of the Liberia National Police who played melodious music as the parade match along the streets. Under the command of Police Inspector General, the traffic Police were strategically positioned in different corners of the city’s major streets to direct the movement of traffic for safe and peaceful match of the parade. The march lasted for nearly two hours covering nearly five miles, and was climaxed at the Monrovia City Hall where the indoor program was held for another one and a half hours.
The program was attended by representatives from several other civil society groups; held on the theme: Engaging Government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Inclusive Social Development, economic participation and the prosperity of the blind in Liberia. The Director General of Liberia Social Security and Welfare Corporation delivered the keynote address. The director of special and Inclusive Education represented the Ministry of Education at this year’s observance of the Cane’s Day.
It was a memorable occasion that brought together not only a mass mobilization of persons who are blind and/or partially sighted in a social event with the general public, members of the print and electronic media, student groups and law enforcement officers, especially as we combat the challenges of Covid-19.
On the 10th October, 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, AFUB Women Committee held their Forum to elect their leadership.
As stipulated in the constitution of the African Union of the Blind (AFUB), there was seventh ordinary Forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for AFUB Women Committee. The Forum is the Sovereign body of the Women Committee which is held every four years and takes all necessary and conducive measures to discuss the achievement of the objects of the Union relating to blind and partially sighted women in Africa. The Forum of the Women serves as a platform that allows members of the committee to review progress of the Women’s activities over the past four years and elaborate plans for the next quadrennial period, as well as elect new leaders to head the Union for the ensuing quadrennial period.
Attending the seventh AFUB Women Committee Forum on 10th October 2019 in room one of Addis Intercontinental Hotel, were twenty-one delegates representing twenty-one AFUB member countries. A host of development partners, observers and visitors were also present.
Women’s election which was moved from its original date of Eighth October, 2019 took place on 10th October, before the elections of president and vice president of the union.
On the agenda for discussion and eventual adoption were minutes of the seventh women Forum, report from women president, discussions on Strategies for partnership and inclusion of women in all AFUB programmes, Women’s action plan, and ended with the election of the Chairperson and vice chairperson of the Women’s committee.
The Forum elected Eveline Angomwi from Cameroon as the Women’s chair and Ms. Eliwaja Msukuma from Tanzania as the vice-chair.
The following represent the women at the regional level: Central Africa Region-Eugenia Sacramento from Saotome and Principe, East Africa Region-Ms. Eliwaja Msukuma from Tanzania, North Africa Region-Dina Foda from Egypt, Southern Africa Region-Ms. Mabataung Khetsi from Lesotho and West Africa region-Calister Ugwuaneke from Nigeria.
AFUB acknowledges the support of its development partners including but not limited to: Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired (SRF), MyRight, Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted (NABP), and Danish Association of the Blind (DAB), Sightsavers, World Blind Union (WBU), Africa Forum Council, African Union (AU), Africa Disability Alliance (ADA), and International Council for the Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI and African Disability Forum (ADF)without whose support the General Assembly would not have been a success.
South Sudan Blind Football Team. First row on squat position and second row standing.
“Fostering spirit of independence”
Many sports have been adapted to include people with disabilities, such as swimming and football. South Sudan Association of Visual Impairment (SSAVI) for the first time in the history of the country formed South Sudan Blind Football Team in February 2020 with support from Light for the World. An organization that raises awareness on physical, social, cultural, and communication barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society.
The team is currently composed of 10 visually impaired players, 2 goal keepers, coach, assistant coach and international instructor from Germany.
The team held its first friendly match on 3rd December 2020 at the basketball stadium.The team was divided into team A and B where team A won the match which was conducted in form of penalty shootout
says Coach Simon Madol and team captain Ladu Martine
The National Olympics Committee granting permission for the team to use the national stadium playground, is a sign of recognition and support for the team to progress. The team is hoped to be the nuclear for South Sudan Blind Football National team and represent the country in international competitions in the near future.
How is blind football is played?
What amazes most fans is the speed of movement, pace and intensity of the game similar to one played by sighted team. Players also show the same passion, skills and commitment to physical fitness.
Major modification from the mainstream football is the blindfolds which are designed to balance the playing ground for players with different level of visual impairment. Instead of 11 players, 5 players make up a blind football team of which 4 are blind players and a sighted goal keeper.
The rattling ball allows the players to locate it as they move around the field yelling to clarify their position. Meanwhile, a sighted goalkeeper and an off-field guide direct the players towards the ball. Passes cover a short distance and players control the ball not to move more than a few inches from their feet.
Communication is key among the players and command of the ball. Compared to sighted game, players do a lot more of dribbling and close control “as coach Simon Madol states
Another striking feature of blind football is the how the fans must watch the game in silence, unless the ball goes off side they shout or howl. Otherwise, they will interfere with messages being shouted between the players in the field.
Mubarak age 21 is a player in the new team who used to play at school and local residential level before becoming blind in 2016.
Now I am delighted to regain the passion of playing football a hope that was lost
Lack of awareness
One major challenge is lack of awareness on blind football hence, may not mobilize adequate resource from entrance fees. This also make it difficult to identify players from young age given that their family’s do not comprehend the importance of sport in their well-being. Besides, universal barriers faced by persons with visual impairment, the team also faces limited experts in training the game.
SSAVI endeavor to sensitive the public on the sport to deepen their understandings and ensure that the new team reaches its utmost capacity by which may contribute to multiple initiatives of the association.
The game has given players who have lost their sight later in life a comeback to a sport they were once passionate about. Those born naturally blind, is not only an opportunity to make new friendship of a team sport but also foster spirit of independence, boosting confidence and social skills
Let’s break down barriers to achieve inclusive, accessible and sustainable development for people with disabilities
Not even the COVID-19 pandemic could hold back Persons with Visual Impairment and Blindness in Burundi from commemorating an important dates on Disability calendar. While White Cane Awareness day is normally celebrated on 15th October, in Burundi, the day was commemorated on October 24,2020 at inclusive school for the blind, visually impaired and deaf of Gihanga Kanuura. The occasion was attended by the Director representing the Ministry of Solidarity, Human Rights and Gender and leaders from other associations.
The occasion was not only a great way to involve local community and educate the public about the blind but also a lobbying opportunity to encourage the local governments to issue a proclamation to remind everyone of the law, and highlight awareness of the presence of blind and visually impaired people in the community.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities on the 3rd of December, did not go unnoticed. It was also brilliantly commemorated with sports activities and goalball in particular for the visually impaired in the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender.
Picture of invited dignitaries sitting on a podium.Photo of visually impaired students performing an item at the ceremony.
“We are delighted to see that as part of the digital transition;people with disabilities are taken into account.”
The director of the Cjarc center, Coco Bertin
The government of Cameroon through the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Ms. Minette Libom Li Likeng donated an inclusive multimedia center to the CJARC (Club of Young Blind Rehabilitated of Cameroon).
IT Trainer explaining to the Invited dignitaries inside the new opened multimedia center on functionality of the new communication technology.
This center is a framework dedicated to learning of information and communication technologies (ICT) accessible to people with disability especially the blind and partially sighted people. It is equipped with ultramodern devices and equipment meeting international standards. According to the head of the Céciweb and IT training department, Audrey Makoumbo,
This space allows access to various documents for visually impaired people in Braille. It will also include, among others, textbooks and school documents, work reports. The sound library or sound library service represents an audio information bank that will promote the socio-professional integration of beneficiaries in general and disabled people in particular
The official inauguration ceremony of the center which took place on Monday 2, December 2020 was opened by Ms. Minette Libom Li Likeng in the presence of several distinguished personalities in particular; the Mayor of Yaoundé, Minister of Secondary Education, the representative of the Minister of Social Affairs and many guests representing private, public and semi-public companies, civil society NGOs and the media.
During the speech delivery, the Minister for telecommunications recalled the government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide.
The head of state called for digital inclusion
According to director of CJARC, the Cameroonian government through this initiative promote inclusiveness of persons with disabilities in reducing the digital divide.
Project Cycle Management is a structured approach to manage multiple projects or programmes and to improve the quality of projects by learning from one project and applying the lessons in the following ones. It allows everyone working on the project to identify and monitor how the project is progressing; and whether there are any issues with particular aspects of the deliverables.
Despite the current context of the COVID 19 pandemic, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, the Togolese Association of the Blind (ATA) with the support of the ADP Project (African Disability Protocol) celebrated the 2021 International White Cane Day under the theme chosen by Togo was: “the white cane and its carrier, what a look during and after COVID19“. This theme was debated throughout October on radio and television channels.
The glamorous afternoon event was opened by welcome remarks from the President of ATA and followed by the Vice-President of the FETAPH who set the ball rolling.
The climax of the celebration was marked by a conference-debate under the theme: “The African protocol on disability: a regional opportunity for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. Several well know individuals participated in this conference: the members of the Monitoring Committee of the ADP Project, the sister Associations of the ATA, the representatives of the FETAPH (Togolese Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities), the representatives of the international organizations intervening in the field of disability and media people. The panel discussion was moderated by Mr. MADOU Yaovi, who is visually impaired and has a doctorate in Public Law. Dr. MADOU Yaovi is also an associate assistant to the Public Universities of Togo.
Subsequently, Dr. BADAKU Maurice who holds a doctorate degree in education science took to the floor to raise public awareness on the use of the white cane. Dr. BADAKU Maurice is also a special education teacher and trainer of trainers in inclusive education / visual impairment and braille. It was also during this occasion that the ADP project was presented to the public for the first time after its successful launch in Togo by the project country coordinator.
At last, the highly anticipated moment came to pass when Dr. MADOU, the speaker of the day began his presentation with the definition of terms. He then highlighted the importance of this innovative protocol by explaining each article in simple French. He concluded by calling upon decision-makers at all levels to contribute towards the ratification of this continental legal instrument and to take measures for its effective implementation , keeping in mind that, each individual is a potential handicapped person.
We, participants to the Africa Regional Workshop on the Marrakesh Treaty held on 29th to 30th November 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya;
REAFFIRMING the freedom of persons with disabilities to seek, receive and access information on an equal basis with others and through forms of communication of their choice, as defined by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
CONCERNED that in many African States, laws protecting intellectual property rights continue to constitute an unreasonable barrier to access by persons with disabilities to published works in formats accessible to them
ACKNOWLEDGING that the Marrakesh Treaty facilitates access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled by requiring Contracting Parties to provide, in their national copyright laws, limitations or exceptions to facilitate the availability of works in accessible format copies for beneficiary persons
APPRECIATING the partnership between the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the World Blind Union (WBU), the African Disability Forum (ADF) and the African Union of the Blind (AFUB) in convening this Workshop
THEREFORE call upon;
All African governments to expedite the ratification, implementation and enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty and to integrate it into relevant national action plans
Development agencies to foster partnerships and allocate resources towards advocacy for the ratification, implementation and enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty in Africa
Content creators and distributors in Africa to adopt inclusive publishing and distribution of content in line with the Marrakesh Treaty
The World Blind Union to sustain the capacity development of its national members, particularly in Africa, towards advocacy for the ratification, implementation and enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty
The African Union of the Blind to facilitate mechanisms to popularize the Marrakesh Treaty among member states in order to expedite its ratification, implementation and enforcement
National organizations of persons who are blind or visually impaired in Africa to provide leadership in advocating for the ratification, implementation, enforcement and monitoring of the Marrakesh Treaty in their countries.
