Thokozani
Thokozani was 13 years old when we met him. He attended the Lunzu Primary School where his academic performance was below average.
“I have problems at school with vision when I sit far away from the chalkboard, and the problems I have at home are when someone is sitting far away.”
Thokozani’s teacher said, “They get problems to see clearly on the chalkboard and the same applies when they are using text books. Whenever they are writing notes from the chalkboard they always write slowly because of their problems to see clearly on the chalkboard. So they are the last pupils in the class to finish writing their notes. And this makes the classroom situation very difficult.”
Thokozani is part of an integrated schools program for children who are vision impaired. However, the problems that Thokozani experienced were the result of not having glasses, or, uncorrected refractive error.
The “Giving Sight to Blind Children” program provided Thokozani with an eye examination and a pair of glasses. “I would like to thank those who gave me these glasses and this should not end with me but it should continue with others who are going to benefit from this program because without you it would not have been possible to get help.”
Thokozani plans to be an electrician. After receiving glasses, he improved at school and now attends the Ntenjera Secondary School, where he is a keen member of the football team.
Studies show that in Malawi, of the 4 million children of school-going age, there are 6,000 children who are blind; 13,000 children who have low vision and 30,000 children who have refractive errors.
Only 10% of these vision impaired children are at school.
To find out more about the Giving Sight to Blind Children Project click here.
