HANDING OVER THE FIRST WHITE CANES IN KENYA

On the occasion of Amma’s 61st birthday, Embracing the World and AYUDH Kenya volunteers handed over the first set of canes to blind youth at Thika school for the visually-impaired, Kenya.

After a short tour of the school, all students of the school – each with a visual impairment – gathered in the field for the presentation of the aims and goals of White C(r)ane project. The school is a mixture of students who have varying degree of vision loss, from albino children with photosensitive eyes to completely blind children. Yet, not a single one of them had owned a cane, which can make life much significantly easier for a blind person.

On behalf of Embracing the World, Mr. Nagesh Karuturi, chairman of M.A. Math Charitable Trust, Kenya, is handing over the first canes to students of Thika school for the visually impaired, Kenya.

Upon receiving the canes, the entire children body did a big “thank you” jig by clapping, clicking and stamping the floor in succession. Two girls came forward, and one of them thanked AYUDH and the good work being done by the White C(r)ane project, while the second girl recited a beautiful prayer. AYUDH promised them to be back with more canes in the near future and to make sure that every child who needs a white cane in the school gets it. By now, AYUDH has already collected funds to support 300 children with canes and is currently looking into finding the right sizes and models matching the needs of children and youth in Kenya.

Afterwards, AYUDH members spent some more time with the kids at the school, talking to them about the challenges they face and asked them to teach them basics of Braille, an engaging and challenging task! This, however, was just a trailer to the White C(r)ane project. AYUDH is planning many more activities to raise funds and awareness about blindness in Europe and Kenya.