See Me; Braille Education for 10 Blind Kosovars

One year ago, the parents of the blind children in Gjakova had lost hope that their children would ever be able to learn to read. With no school for blind people in Gjakova, they have never had the chance to be in education. But then The Ideas Partnership started the campaign to raise money for Braille classes which were to be run by the Society for the Blind there. After we received generous donations from you, we have been able to start the Braille classes for five children in Gjakova. The Braille instructors, Shaip and Xhafer, were really happy that they got to put their skills to use to advance the lives of these children who were born blind. Until now, five children have successfully completed Braille classes. One of them is even attending mainstream school in the village where he lives.

“We are really proud to see the children’s progress. They were offered no support whatsoever growing up and it was very hard for them and for their families to have no opportunities to get them to school. What we are offering here, with the support of The Ideas Partnership, is a chance for the blind children to access education which is a human right after all”, says teacher Shaip, who being blind himself knows the importance of early education in shaping one’s future. He had had the opportunity to attend school when he was young and then landed a job shortly after.

Shaip and Xhafer have also identified three more children who need help in learning Braille. We are kindly asking you to help them get this opportunity. Your donations have made it all possible, so far. But, would you like to help three other blind children get the gift of reading Braille?

A project that keeps on giving

Lendrit is currently attending 5^th class in the regular school, despite being partially sighted. His mother, Leonora (in the picture above), is separated from her husband and living on her own in rented accommodation with Lendrit and his sibling. She is concerned that he is falling behind because of his disability. The Blind Society in Gjakova have helped Lendrit with new glasses and with enlarged texts so the learning can be easier for him. He has come to our center in Gjakova three times so far, being tutored by the professional teachers there. But he is certainly a very bright child who needs additional help. The Ideas Partnership has funded this project for quite a while now, depending a lot on the generous private donations. Lendrit needs your help so his disability won’t be on his way to the bright path of learning.

From your generous donations, we have been able to support five children to complete Braille classes up to date. Sadik, Alaudin, Besjana, Rinor, and Elfete have all completed successfully the classes offered by the Society of the Blind. Of these, three (Sadik, Alaudin, Elfete) are attending the residential school for the blind in Gjakova. Rinor is attending mainstream school in the village where he lives in Prizren.

With your help, we can offer more weekly support sessions for other children who are a part of the program and also other kids who are not receiving the help they need.

Support The Ideas Partnership’s project so we can offer an equal opportunity for education to the blind children!