For decades, being born with visual impairment – or losing one’s sight later in life – often meant a future defined by exclusion. Many people with visual disabilities were hidden by their families, denied education, and regarded as dependents rather than individuals capable of learning, working, and contributing to society.

Even those who attended school often had their education cut short due to a lack of inclusive learning environments, specialised teaching materials, and tailored support services. Without education or vocational skills, employment opportunities remained limited, leaving many trapped in poverty and dependence.

Today, that reality is gradually changing. Across Rwanda, graduates with visual impairment are teaching in schools, lecturing at universities, running businesses, serving in public institutions and supporting their families – demonstrating that visual impairment is not a barrier to success when the right support is available.

Among the organisations driving this transformation is the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB), which has spent more than three decades expanding access to education, skills development and economic opportunities while challenging stigma. Through its work, thousands of people with visual impairment have gained the tools and confidence to build independent, dignified lives.

A union born out of necessity

The Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) was founded in 1995 by a group of blind and partially sighted persons committed to advancing the rights and inclusion of people with visual impairment.

At the time of its creation, Rwanda had no dedicated organisation representing the rights and needs of people with visual impairment.

Since its registration, RUB has grown into the country’s leading organisation in this field, with 64 branches spread across all 30 districts. In total, RUB has over 185,000 members countrywide according to the Firth Household Census 2022 -- the latest.

Through these branches, members identify children with visual impairment who lack access to education, adults requiring rehabilitation and families in need of support while creating a network where people with visual impairment can share experiences and advocate for their rights.

Opening the doors of education

For RUB, education was the first and most urgent struggle in addressing exclusion, says Dr. Beth Nasiforo Mukarwego, Chairperson of the organisation, who holds a PhD in special needs education.

Reflecting on how the education system once excluded children with visual impairment, she recalls the limited learning opportunities available at the time.

"Children with visual impairment were learning up to Primary Six, but they were not able to sit for the national primary leaving examination. After that, they simply went back home without any educational progress,” she said, stressing that there was only one school, Gatagara HVP, which received children with visual impairment.

RUB later lobbied the Ministry of Education to allow learners with visual impairment to sit national examinations. Although this was achieved, access to secondary education remained a major obstacle, as most schools were not willing or equipped to admit them.

Working closely with education leaders, including then headteacher of GS Gahini, Evarist Karangwa, and with support from the Anglican Church, RUB secured opportunities for learners with visual impairment to enroll at GS Gahini in 1998. The school marked a turning point, enabling them to complete both Ordinary and Advanced Level education in an inclusive environment for the first time.

Despite this progress, another barrier remained: limited access to university education.

The breakthrough finally came in 2008 when the University of Rwanda admitted its first cohort of students with visual impairment at the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) and the then National University of Rwanda (UNR), now the University of Rwanda (UR).

"Since then, students with visual impairment have been earning university degrees and succeeding," Dr. Mukarwego said. "Today many of them are employed, while others are self-employed and even employ people without disabilities," she added.

She says these achievements reflect a deeper social transformation beyond academics.

"Looking back where we came from, people with visual impairment had no say. Many were kept at home and denied education. Today we have teachers, lecturers, master's graduates and PhD holders with visual impairment. That is something we are proud of,” she said.

Building hope, skills and livelihoods at Masaka Resource Centre for the Blind

Beyond formal education, RUB’s Masaka Resource Centre for the Blind (MRCB) plays a critical role in restoring independence for people who lose sight later in life or who never had access to schooling.

At the centre, trainees are gradually guided through a structured programme that begins with orientation and mobility skills, helping them safely navigate their surroundings. This is followed by Braille literacy, computer training, and vocational skills in areas such as knitting, massage therapy, agriculture, livestock keeping, and entrepreneurship.

Those trained in knitting are also provided with start-up equipment, which is shared across RUB branches to extend the benefits to more members and promote income-generating activities.

The centre further supports learners who lose their sight while still in school, ensuring they are not permanently excluded from education.

"They are taught Braille, orientation and mobility, computer skills and then continue their education," Dr. Mukarwego explained.

The impact of this training extends well beyond the centre itself. Many graduates return to their communities and establish farms, kitchen gardens, and small businesses, becoming local examples of resilience and self-reliance.

"In some villages," she said, "people without visual impairment are encouraged to visit the kitchen gardens of visually impaired farmers to learn from their success."

Lives transformed

To date, the Masaka Resource Centre for the Blind has trained over 1,100 people with visual impairment, equipping them with hands-on skills that enable them to lead more self-reliant lives.

For 37-year-old Theoneste Nsenguwera from Nyanza District, losing his sight in 2020 meant an abrupt end to his career as a professional driver and the loss of his livelihood.

He describes how the Masaka centre helped him start again.

"When I came to Masaka, I trained in knitting and learned how to make different products, including pullovers,” he said.

Beyond skills, he says the training restored his dignity and confidence.

"I am grateful that I acquired these skills. I will soon start earning a living so that I am not a burden to society and society does not look down on me."

For Peninnah Niyobyose, another beneficiary, her journey through Masaka evolved into a professional path. After losing her sight, she first enrolled as a trainee, learned mobility and Braille, and later specialised in knitting. Today, she is a trainer at the centre.

"I have trained more than 50 students since we started. My salary allows me to feed my family, educate my children and meet our daily needs. I am thankful to RUB for establishing this centre and restoring hope after we lost our vision."

Beyond rehabilitation

RUB continues to expand its work beyond education and vocational training, advocating for inclusive education systems, accessibility, and equal participation in community life.

It supports learners from vulnerable families with school fees, provides Braille materials and assistive devices where available, and works with schools to ensure children with visual impairment remain in class.

The organisation also promotes economic inclusion, encouraging communities and local leaders to recognise the productive potential of people with visual impairment.

"Having visual impairment does not mean other parts of your body are not functioning," Dr. Mukarwego said. "The brain is functioning, the hands are functioning and the legs are functioning. What people need is support."

The need to address the remaining challenges

Despite progress, significant challenges persist. Many people with visual impairment across Rwanda still lack access to education and vocational training opportunities.

The Masaka Resource Centre continues to rely heavily on donor funding. RUB is advocating for its recognition as a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution to expand its courses, modernise training, and recruit additional instructors.

The organisation also calls for increased investment in assistive technologies, inclusive schools, and teacher training to improve learning outcomes from an early age.

Dr. Mukarwego emphasises that the work is far from complete.

"There are still children being born with visual impairment every day. They will need the same opportunities and support."

She appeals for stronger collaboration among partners.

"We need partners to join hands with us so that people with visual impairment can access education, vocational training and employment. Together we can ensure they live independently and contribute fully to Rwanda's development,” she said.

Mukarwego commends RUB’s long-standing partners for their continued support, which has contributed to the organization’s smooth operations over the years.

These partners include the Danish Association of the Blind, the Swedish Association for Visually Impaired Persons, MyRight, GIZ/GOPA, Chance for Childhood, Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa, NUDOR/AmplifyChange, and the Disability Rights Fund (DRF).