Jonathan meeting Enifa Sitandi

Trip of a lifetime Day 5

Travelling via an attractive tree lined road through Zombe the final visit in the south was to Enifa Sitandi, a Muslim lady who became blind four years ago, probably through glaucoma. Initially she thought her life effectively over, but was eventually persuaded to accept rehabilitation training.

Over a period of a year her confidence and abilities progressed to the extent that she now runs a small tea house in the village, where she is able to make the tea and serve customers, having learned how to recognise money offered in payment. In addition to the tea house, she now owns three small houses in the village, and has a field growing cassava, which she cultivates.

"Over a period of a year her confidence and abilities progressed to the extent that she now runs a small tea house in the village"

There followed the long return drive north to Lilongwe. In the evening a surprise, the group had expected a rather quiet dinner at a local Italian restaurant with Frank from the country office, but found that a larger party had been arranged, with various representatives from government departments, including the Director of Education, who is also blind, surgeons seen earlier performing cataract operations, and members of the country office staff.

Dr Rajendra entertained the party with a song, and the evening was rounded off by a speech from the Senior Programmes Manager Bright, with a response from Les Hardy on behalf of the group.

Achievements

 

Rehabilitation statistics

Working with partners in 2010 we helped to:

• Train 2,623 teachers to support with visually impaired children in the classroom
• Provide basic daily living skills training to over 4,577 blind people
• Train 3,513 rehabilitation workers