March 28, 2024

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How Is Living with Visual Impairment in Nyamagabe?

Yozefa Mukakalinda is a 53 years old woman living in Ruziba Village, Gatovu Cell, Tare Sector in Nyamagabe District

Yozefa Mukakalinda is a 53 years old woman living in Ruziba Village, Gatovu Cell, Tare Sector in Nyamagabe District of the Southern Province.

She lives with visual impairment that inherited when she was 8 years old.

Mukakalinda has never gone to School because of being blind.

“It started when I was at my 8 years of age. I used to scratch into my eyes, “She says

“Later they took me to the Hospital and they found that I have congenital cataract” meaning that her vision has been impaired since she was a child.

She added that he lost her parents when she was 8.

“That’s when I started to suffer since there was no one to take care of me.” Mukakalinda noted.

“I suffered a lot. No one was sympathizing with me. At the time being a blind was an insult. No value in the society.” She told us during an Interview.

At her 20 years old, Mukakalinda knew that there were other people with visual impairments. She started joining them and shares the experience.

“We grouped together and start fighting for survival together.”

Mukakalinda is a member of Rwanda Union of Blinds (RUB). She says that RUB has been training them to enable them making a living without begging.

She says the training has contributed a lot in her life.

“Today I am able to work on my ways without a guide before it was very difficult to cross a road for example.” She says.

Mukakalinda cultivates on one acre where she grows beans, cassava, sorghum and maize.

At the recent agricultural season, she harvested between 30 Kg and 40 Kg of beans.

Mukakalinda has a pig and a goat.

People with visual impairment need special assistance

She shares the same house with the goat during night hours. The pig is being raised by neighbors.

For Mukakalinda, her pig and goat contribute a lot to her living.

“At my level I don’t have problems. I can buy clothes and soap without going to beg.

These days Mukakalinda is facing some challenges. She says she cannot save for the future due to lack of means.

“Only I have 7000 Rwandan Francs on my Bank account in SACCO which also came from the assistance.”

Mukakalinda said she has managed to renovate her house using small amount of money that she has been putting aside waiting to reach an amount that can help her during her house renovation.

Despite her living condition, Mukakalinda said she will keep fighting for the dignity.

She said her passion is to keep working for a better future.

Mukakalinda said the Government has availed space for all people to exercise their works without discrimination.

“Today, People with Disabilities are contributing ideas during community meetings. We also give intervention through our ideas during our village assembly.” She says.

She added that local leaders are favoring them when they are seeking services.

However, Mukakalinda said that there was a time when she was sick and when she told the problem to the local leader, the later lied her that she is going to help her and ended up with doing nothing.

“That leader has deceived me much! I will never forget that moment!” She says.

Mukakalinda is in category 1 of Ubudehe means that she receives Government support meant for people in that Category.

Her Toilet

However she added that “For instance they pay us for Health Insurance but there is a time when the medical services that you are looking for will need to travel long distance from here. That is when we face serious challenge of transport means.”

Mukakalinda proposes that “The Government together with partners shall see how they can increase the financial support to people with disabilities.”

Mukakalinda thanks RUB for the continuous advocacy and trainings and visiting them regularly as it is a sign that Blinds have value in their communities.

She said since she joined RUB and other local cooperatives her life has improved.

“We no longer feel rejected! We are people like others” She says.

She adds that she has ideas that need to be supported so she can achieve more.

“I wish I have a cow. I like milk so much and if I have that cow I can even milk for my neighbors. They need milk for their children.” Mukakalinda concluded

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