KIGALI - The Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) has welcomed the idea conceived by Rwanda Renaissance, an Indian based NGO devoted at promoting social welfare in the country, to help the visually impaired.

Eugene Barikana, the Ministry’s Secretary General, in a phone interview said that the Ministry is ready to work with the NGO.

After observing the difficult and complex conditions in which visually impaired people in Rwanda live, the NGO has pledged to help them lead an improved and productive life.

In a written statement, Clarence Fernandes, the Chairman of Rwanda Renaissance, said that he was touched by the hardships the visually impaired people go through in their day to day lives.

"If the concerned government authorities are interested, we would be very happy to assist in getting relevant organizations in Mumbai to help set up suitable facilities in Rwanda so that the visually impaired do not resort to begging,” revealed Fernandes.

"That is a brilliant project. They should come and register with us if they haven’t. We shall be grateful to work with them in helping the visually impaired improve their lives,” Barikana said.

He added that in place are a number of projects and authorities helping people with disabilities, some of which are implemented by the beneficiaries themselves.

The help Rwanda Renaissance is willing to offer is in form of specially designed training programs and courses to teach the visually impaired. It’s also willing to offer professional expertise to set up facilities to assist the visually impaired find "their rightful place and be able to effectively contribute to the growing Rwandan economy.”

Barikana condemned people with disabilities who resort to begging on the streets. He said that begging can never be a solution to their problems. He advised them to reach out to the village committees charged with their welfare to forward their projects to levels where they can be implemented.

Rwanda Renaissance is going to model its help from the already existing institutions like the Happy Home School for the Blind and the National Association of the Blind Workshop which have specially designed programs and courses in training the blind.

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