THE lives of visually impaired children cared for by the Musgrave-based Bright Eyes Trust have received a major boost following the donation of a new mini-bus and an interactive braille learning device from the SA Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT).

The new mini-bus replaces the organisation’s long-standing reliance on private staff vehicles to transport learners to aftercare programmes, hospital visits, therapeutic excursions and community outreach projects.

SAMCT representative Gaff Osman said they decided to intervene when the need for a dedicated vehicle became urgent.

“It had become essential to prioritise a dedicated vehicle, as the organisation could no longer expect or rely on staff to use their own private cars to fulfil its broad transportation needs,” said Osman.

Also Read: Take care of your child’s eyes for a brighter future

“In addition, the provision of Annie, the braille learning tool, will give effect to promoting independent learning and is an excellent device for boosting the confidence of visually impaired learners.”

The interactive braille device uses touch, audio instructions and interactive play to help visually impaired learners develop braille reading, writing and typing skills at their own pace.

Established in 2009, Bright Eyes Trust focuses on empowering the physical, emotional and cognitive development of blind and partially sighted children through specialised early childhood intervention programmes while also assisting families with tailored resources and guidance.

Osman said the dedicated vehicle would significantly strengthen the organisation’s service delivery and outreach capabilities.

“Having a dedicated vehicle is essential to Bright Eyes Trust’s core operations and will now play a key role in providing safe, daily transport for learners and enabling access to vital aftercare programmes, therapeutic excursions and weekly hospital visits.”

He added that SAMCT was honoured to support the organisation’s mission of creating opportunities for visually impaired children to thrive despite social and economic barriers.

For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here