Photo of the week-Gitega : a school for blind children appeals for help in the face of urgent needs

The Santa Lucia Primary School in Mushasha, located in the city of Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, in the center of this small East African nation, is sounding the alarm about numerous difficulties that compromise living and learning conditions of its pupils. The administration of this specialized school is appealing to authorities, charities, businesses, and individuals of goodwill to mobilize and support the 66 blind children enrolled there.

According to Reverend Sister Aline Karerwa, the school’s director, the school exclusively serves blind children from grades 1 through 6. The pupils follow the official Burundian government curriculum, but their learning is hampered by a lack of human, material, and financial resources.

One of the most urgent needs is for boarding facilities. The school requires 60 beds and 60 mattresses to provide decent living conditions for the pupils.

The school is also facing a teacher shortage. This situation could worsen with the upcoming retirement of two teachers who teach grades 5 and 6. Their replacement is essential to ensure continuity of learning.

From a pedagogical standpoint, the difficulties are just as significant. The school has only one embossing machine for printing braille documents for pupils. This is compounded by recurring shortages of braille paper, an essential material for enabling blind children to pursue their education normally.

The school’s infrastructure also shows signs of advanced disrepair. Several buildings require renovation and expansion to provide a safer and more suitable environment for the children. The administration also reports difficulties in providing daily meals for boarding pupils.

The children’s development is also affected by the lack of suitable sports facilities. The school has no goalball field, a sport specifically designed for blind people, thus depriving pupils of an activity essential to their physical, social, and psychological development.

Most of the children enrolled come from particularly impoverished families. Many children lack the resources to pay for transportation to visit their families during school holidays. Healthcare expenses also represent a significant burden for their families.

Faced with these numerous challenges, Reverend Sister Aline Karerwa is making an urgent appeal to Burundian authorities, technical and financial partners, humanitarian organizations, businesses, and individuals of goodwill to support the Santa Lucia Primary School in Mushasha. She believes that these children, despite their visual impairments, have the same aspirations as others and deserve to continue their education in dignified conditions, with necessary tools and guidance for their success.

Our photo : Reverend Sister Aline Karerwa among the children of the Santa Lucia Primary School in Mushasha, eating their meal. The school serves 66 blind pupils in conditions marked by numerous urgent needs