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Mohammad makes soap to sell at the local market in Sierra Leone. © Tim McDonnell / Sightsavers

Mohammad makes soap to sell at the local market in Sierra Leone. © Tim McDonnell / Sightsavers

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Mohammad's New Business

Mohammad is 37 years old and used to work as a truck driver. A few years ago he became blind and lacking family support he had no other choice but to go begging on the streets of Freetown to survive.

One day he heard about a Sightsavers-supported training programme which was set up by the Sierra Leone Association for the Blind (SLAB). This Association helps the many blind people who are begging on the street to learn a new skill that will enable them to become self-sufficient and regain their independence.

The skills taught on this training programme include baking, fabric-dying, sewing and soap-making. At the SLAB training centre Mohammad learned to make soap and turned this new skill into a successful business. "Now I make a lot of soap which I sell to the market. I have my dignity."

Mohammad has learned to read Braille, transcribe and is also employed by the Ministry of Education to train other blind people to make soap. He is now saving for a dowry to get married. As he says himself, "I am now a role model." By empowering people like Mohammad that we can help end the cycle of poverty.Mohammad is 37 years old and used to work as a truck driver. A few years ago he became blind and lacking family support he had no other choice but to go begging on the streets of Freetown to survive.