Locals inspire blind Kenyans with library project
A group of South Africans, including two locals showcased their work on the Mini-Library for the Blind in Kenya over the weekend and several other African countries asked them to extend the project to their countries as well.
“Today is the happiest day of my life. I am happy to have met someone like me. It touched my heart that blind people are willing to learn from one another.”
These were the joyful words of avid blind reader Bongani Sibambo after returning from Kenya, where he represented South Africa at the African Public Service Day (APSD) Continental Celebrations over the weekend.
Sibambo is the champion of the mini-library for the blind at the Kamaqhekeza Public Library and was chosen to honour the project’s nomination for an award at the APSD.
READ: Local librarian to represent SA at awards ceremony in Kenya
Although they did not win, Bongani and Kamaqhekeza librarian Ernest Sitiba, as well as representatives from the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation, considered the visit a great success.
The group landed in Nairobi last Wednesday and was able to showcase their work with an exhibit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre during the weekend-long event.
Many people visited the stall and one young resident from Nairobi was so impressed she promised to bring her blind brother, Vincent Omondi, to meet them.
“It was my dream to come to Kenya and meet a blind person at the conference,” Sibambo said. He and Omondi were able to talk about the library and the benefits of such a service, as well as challenges for visually-impaired people.
Omondi was excited to interact with gadgets and technology, as well as a book in Braille, that he had been unable to access before.
Simbambo told Corridor Gazette that it was great to visit Central Africa and experience the residents’ way of living and their language.
“I have learned never to underestimate others. People can still survive even if they don’t have much in life. Even though we did not scoop the award, we were recognised by our presentation. Personally, it was not about the award, but about teaching other people like me that it is not over and that there is more life ahead of us,” he said.
The mini-library representative said that his biggest award was that he was able to engage with people and achieve his long-term goal of teaching and learning.
READ: Five reasons why you should join the #readbecause campaign
Sitiba stated that South Africans are very fortunate to have programmes like the mini-library. “Other African countries are far behind us. They do not have the technology that we have and they did not know that a blind person could ever use a computer or own their own,” he explained.
The group had a lot of good feedback after showcasing their work, and several other African countries asked them to extend the project to their countries as well.
He explained that they heard that blind people stay in their houses as many people feel it is a disgrace or curse to have a blind person in the family.
“We thank the department for giving us the opportunity to teach other countries how we do things. We brought hope to blind people of other African countries,” he concluded.
READ: Local writer launches fourth inspirational book
Nkomazi is currently home to two libraries for the blind, at Kamaqhekeza Public Library and Mgobodzi’s Somuhle Community Library.
Visually-impaired residents are urged to visit them and find out more about their services. These libraries provide blind and visually-impaired people with computer hardware and software specifically designed for them, as well as document readers, audio playback equipment, audio and Braille books and accessible book-lending services.
