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Arvel Grant (CEO- CCB/Eye Care

Caribbean) and Ganesh Singh

GUYANA SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND

I am totally blind, I have been totally blind since I was six years old, and I am enjoying these classes; they are

very beneficial; I didnt have the opportunity to write CXC before and now that this organization has afforded

me this opportunity its one I m so keen on taking advantage of. - Leroy Phillips

January 7, 2013, was the dawn of anew day at the Guyana Society for theBlind as it marked to start of aprogramme preparing studentsbetween the ages of 17 and 35, who areblind, visually impaired and/ordisabled to write five subjects inexaminations prepared by CaribbeanExaminations Councils (CXC) in 2014.

These classes represent anothermilestone in the history of the Societythat was established on October 8,1955. The current President, CecilMorris, who is also visually impaired,said what was once a dream has nowbecome reality.

This experience at the Society is

something that we have been wanting to do

for a long time; the idea was always there,

but over the last two years or so, myself

and Ganesh were kicking this thing around

like a football. Coming down to the end of

last year (2012), we decided that we must

start this thing; we were discovering too

many young people who wanted an

opportunity to do something with theirlives and just giving them the normal cane

training was not enough. That was the

motivation for us to move on; we talked

about this thing a whole lot; we spoke to

everyone we knew.

Since we started, the amount of persons

who came on board giving us support was

overwhelming.

CXC Programme

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The person who was the driving forcebehind this initiative is Ganesh Singh,an Executive Member of the Society.Ganesh asserts that while the Societyhas been doing a lot regarding theempowerment and development ofpersons who are blind and visuallyimpaired, this programme will openother doors for the participants.I relate well to a lot of these individuals

because I lost my sight around writing

CXC time, and Ive always found myself

blessed to have the opportunity to write

CXCs before I lost my sight, because I

dont know what my future would have

been. I had no hope when I got blind; I had

no hope for five years and I did not want to

see another young person loosing those

amounts of years in their life. I told myself

that if there was something I could do to

change that I would.

Ganesh and Cecil Morris workedtirelessly until their mission wasaccomplished with the Ministry ofEducation agreeing to pay the Teacherswho would be working with theSociety on this project.The Tutors for this programme are being

provided by the Ministry of Education and

everything is done on computer. In the

classroom sessions there is a lot of

interaction. Everything is also being doneelectronically and we are planning to

have the session run via the Internet so

that students across the country can

follow us or through some other

conference facility.

Once approved by the Ministry ofEducation, Ganesh went on the huntfor Teachers. One of the first personsapproached was Ann-Marie Best, whois a student at the University of

Guyana.I have taught before, but not those whodont have sight, Ganesh approached me

and I took three weeks before deciding to

take this on; I started in January. It is a

little challenging at times, because they are

all at different levels; some are slower than

some.

I have seen a lot of improvement since Ive

been here. Honestly, before coming here I

would have been fearful even to help the

blind, but now that Im aware of things

and their disabilities, I am much more alert

when it comes to helping the blind. They

are amazing, I can tell you that.

The students are thrilled just tohave the opportunity of pursuing

their studies.

I am totally blind, I have been totally

blind since I was six years old, and I am

enjoying these classes; they are very

beneficial; I didnt have the opportunity to

write CXC before and now that this

organization has afforded me this

opportunity its one I m so keen on taking

advantage of, said Leroy Phillips whoworks as a Freelancer with a localRadio Station.

Another student is Rosemarie Ramit,18, who lost her vision when she was

13, to a rare condition known asUveitis. Following her diagnosis, shedropped out of school and had nohope until one day in 2012.I was home and the National Commission

on Disability was handing out some forms

and my father collected them. The form had

information about the CXC Classes; my

father encouraged me to sign up for the

Classes and I did; so now Im here. I have

so much hope;

these CXC

Classes have

given me hope

for the

future!

The future isalso lookingbright forRoy Stewartwho suffersfromMacularDegeneration.

I did CXC Courses some years ago, but it

was very challenging because I had to use

magnifying glasses which helped just alittle. I got some good grades, but not

enough to get me to the University. I then

met Mr. Ganesh Singh - and he

encouraged me to pursue these Classes; so

I came and I am benefitting a lot from them

and I plan to make the best use of these

Classes.

After seven months of existence, theCXC Programme at the GuyanaSociety of the Blind is something to be

proud of.

I am very satisfied to see the progress of

some students. Some, like Rosemarie, who

used to be very introverted; she didnt

interact much. But for her and others, the

future is not so bleak as I once thought it to

be; they have the opportunity; they can go

to University and know that they have a

bright future; the students are more open;

they interact more and you can see the

change in them, said Ganesh.

Both Cecil Morris and Ganesh havevowed to continue dedicating theirtime to help others who are blind orvisually impaired in this endeavourand others as the road ahead is pavedwith unlimited possibilities.

Leroy Phillips

Rosemarie Ramit

Roy Stewart

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Guyana Society for the Blind - CXC

Programme (Video)

http://youtu.be/R22LiXkVGqw

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