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- Talking to Angeline Akai
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Blind teacher Angeline Akai with a child. © Georgina Cranston / Sightsavers
Talking to Angeline Akai
Angeline Akai is totally blind, and qualified as a teacher after attending an integrated school, and an integrated college. She lives in the Kibera slums in Kenya with her family, who could not afford to send any of the other children to school.
Her teacher training took two years to complete, during which time she was assisted by a core teacher who did things such as write on the black board and mark books. After qualifying she taught at the Kilimani Primary school, but is currently looking for work. Angeline and other blind friends she went to college with have found there to be a lot of competition for teaching jobs, especially when up against sighted people.
How do the children react to you?
When I went to my first school the children all asked "how can you teach?" They were also very curious about how I get around and cook. It only took a day to win them over. They were amazed when I could tell who was talking in class. "How did she know?" they kept asking?
Why integrated rather than special?
Blind and sighted people need to learn to get used to each other. If you go to a school for the blind you are hidden and don't know the world. People can grow up to 18 or 19 years old and not accept themselves as blind. They feel left out of society, whereas I feel like everyone else.
Why do you enjoy teaching?
I enjoy talking to children. People in Nairobi feel low as they are very poor, and I can encourage them that they can move on with their life.
What did you enjoy most about school?
The sporting activities and good friends. I'm now training with two other blind people every Saturday to learn to swim, so we can represent our country.
How does the issue of HIV/Aids affect blind people?
We are left behind on HIV, because there is no information on Braille blind people are catching many bad things. There are no jobs for the disabled, no family support so people end up selling themselves and catching HIV.
Why is education important?
I am the only person educated in my family. I had a poor background and I am the one who is going to uplift my family.
If you meet parents with VI children what would you say to them?
I would encourage them. I've not reached the full heights of my potential but I've moved very far and their child can go further than me. My education made me mobile, it was not just the training, but the confidence in myself it gave me which meant I can walk around. I would teach parents that blindness is not a curse, just the way it is.
