Equal opportunities for the blind

Ethiopia has one of the world's highest rates of blindness and poor vision. Recent studies revealed that the national prevalence of blindness is 1.6% and the rate of poor vision is 3.7%. The major causes of blindness are cataract (49.9%), trachomatous corneal opacity (11.5%), refractive error (7.8%) and glaucoma (5.2%). Many causes of blindness in Ethiopia are preventable or treatable.

Source: National Survey on Blindness, Low Vision and Trachoma in Ethiopia" published in September 2006 by the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health.

Ethiopiaid believes that blind students in Ethiopia should have the same opportunities as their able-sighted peers. Unfortunately, this is often not the case.

A blind student reading braile

Eradication of poverty through education

In 2008, Ethiopiaid and Alchemy World, an Ethiopian-based NGO, agreed to create two Business Schools for the Blind in the Addis Ababa region. By the end of the year, each school had started operations with 16 carefully chosen, visually-impaired students from extremely poor backgrounds. The students, aged 18-28, are currently being trained in Business, Information Technology and English.

Blind students

Securing a future through entrepreneurship

After a training period of 18 months the visually-impaired students will be ready to set up their own small- and medium-sized businesses. They will be supported throughout the creation of their enterprises to help them overcome any challenges they may face.

At the end of the programme, the students will have received the training necessary to take control of their destinies. By creating their own employment, they will be able to lift themselves out of poverty and create an income for years to come.

Blind students