GUYANA SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND

CXC Programme

I am totally blind, I have been totally blind since I was six years old, and I am enjoying these classes; they are very benecial; 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 a new day at the Guyana Society for the Blind as it marked to start of a programme preparing students between the ages of 17 and 35, who are blind, visually impaired and/or disabled to write ve subjects in examinations prepared by Caribbean Examinations Councils (CXC) in 2014. These classes represent another milestone in the history of the Society that was established on October 8, 1955. The current President, Cecil Morris, who is also visually impaired, said what was once a dream has now become 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 their lives 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.

Arvel Grant (CEO- CCB/Eye Care Caribbean) and Ganesh Singh

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The person who was the driving force behind this initiative is Ganesh Singh, an Executive Member of the Society. Ganesh asserts that while the Society has been doing a lot regarding the empowerment and development of persons who are blind and visually impaired, this programme will open other 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 ve 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.

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.

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 is also looking bright for Roy Stewart who suffers from Macular Degeneration.

The students are thrilled just to have the opportunity of pursuing their studies.

Roy Stewart

Leroy Phillips

I am totally blind, I have been totally blind since I was six years old, and I am Ganesh and Cecil Morris worked enjoying these classes; they are very tirelessly until their mission was benecial; I didnt have the opportunity to accomplished with the Ministry of Education agreeing to pay the Teachers write CXC before and now that this organization has afforded me this who would be working with the opportunity its one I m so keen on taking Society on this project. advantage of, said Leroy Phillips who The Tutors for this programme are being provided by the Ministry of Education and works as a Freelancer with a local Radio Station. everything is done on computer. In the classroom sessions there is a lot of interaction. Everything is also being done electronically 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 of Rosemarie Ramit Education, Ganesh went on the hunt for Teachers. One of the rst persons approached was Ann-Marie Best, who Another student is Rosemarie Ramit, 18, who lost her vision when she was is a student at the University of 13, to a rare condition known as Guyana. Uveitis. Following her diagnosis, she I have taught before, but not those who dropped out of school and had no dont have sight, Ganesh approached me hope until one day in 2012. and I took three weeks before deciding to I was home and the National Commission take this on; I started in January. It is a little challenging at times, because they are on Disability was handing out some forms all at different levels; some are slower than and my father collected them. The form had information about the CXC Classes; my some.

I did CXC Courses some years ago, but it was very challenging because I had to use magnifying glasses which helped just a little. 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 benetting a lot from them and I plan to make the best use of these Classes. After seven months of existence, the CXC Programme at the Guyana Society of the Blind is something to be proud of. I am very satised 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 have vowed to continue dedicating their time to help others who are blind or visually impaired in this endeavour and others as the road ahead is paved with unlimited possibilities.

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Guyana Society for the Blind - CXC Programme (Video)

http://youtu.be/R22LiXkVGqw