Page 10 - AHATA

Saturday 19 September 2020 LOCAL
A10

There is more to the eyes than you see

teach Braille to the parents. There in their twenties. This is because
are information briefings to the po- of the unhealthy eating lifestyle
lice school and lectures within the so they get diabetes that can go
community. The activity coordina- hand-in-hand with losing sight.”
tor takes care of all social activities
like trips to the beach or casino and Reach Out
bus trips, a Christmas celebration FAVI visits the doctors to underline
or a comedy show visit. The social the importance of referring clients
workers visit the homes of the cli- to them. “We would like to reach
ents and organize conversational everybody, we have the knowl-
sessions as there are so many top- edge in-house and the profession-
ics that the clients have issues with als working here. We call on the
and in this group they talk and find community to be open to us, even
solutions. “Depressions are com- if you do not have this problem
mon with our clients but this group yourself, you might know someone
helps them a lot, there is a way out. in your neighborhood, and friends,
We focus on what they can still do family and you help a lot to inform
and on acceptance. If you were them about us to coax them out of
able to see before and lose your isolation.
sight it is really very difficult. When a
child is born without sight mostly the Needs
parents have problems. We need “We would love tourists to come
to teach the child how the world and see our facility to see what
Reintegration into Society appears and we paint that world. we have to offer and interact with
ORANJESTAD — In the year Either the eye specialist or the cli- Their social behavior differs often clients although in this Covid-19
1974 a group of enthusiastic ent initiates to come to FAVI. Next from other children as their senses time this is not possible. Clients are
people, stimulated by the Neth- they go to their home to see the are more developed and they ex- always open to connect, so call
erlands, founded the “Sticht- situation and register their needs. press in a different way which can us and we can see how to work
ing Blindenzorg Aruba” foun- “What do you want? How is your cause misunderstandings. something out,” Baarh says. FAVI
dation. In 1975 the name was home situation? Do you have as a foundation receives a govern-
changed to the Papiamento problems at your job? are some of 3, 105 Visually Impaired ment subsidy, mainly to pay the
name “Fundacion Arubano di the questions we ask. After that we According to Census Aruba 2010 workers and they have other funds
esnan Visualmente Incapaci- do a practical visual check with there are 3,105 visually impaired from different donations. “We do
ta,” abbreviated as FAVI, easily a revalidation therapist. The test people. FAVI only has 350 clients, activities to get funding and we
recognizable in the commu- is not medical but for us to deter- by percentage that is comparable have collectors. We can only run
nity. The name FAVI nowadays mine the person’s visual capacity. to the Netherlands and Curacao. by that. We are in need of equip-
is directly linked to the visually When a person has 30% or less they “They do not look for help easily. ment and that is expensive, espe-
impaired. Cetty Baarh, Direc- are considered a visually impaired The reasons are the taboo, they cially for the blind and visually im-
tor of the foundation: “FAVI is person.” In general people with a are embarrassed to get out, do not paired, like Braille type machines,
for the blind and visually im- vision above that, they are not ac- want people to know and will try to printers etc. For example we have
paired, we are the only one on cepted. However the exception ignore it, as long as manageable. two blind children on the island
the island that gives guidance is when their functional system is Other factors are they do not wish that follow regular education com-
to this group. The objective is to not working well, we need to set to burden the family so they keep pletely in Braille, so they have their
help and guide them with the a guideline. FAVI has ten work- themselves isolated”, the director typing machine for Braille. But the
main purpose to make them ers, the director, two teachers, bus explains. The majority of the cli- technology is advancing and we
happy again. We focus first on drivers, receptionist, and clean- ents are visually impaired because need to be able to keep up to
happiness because when the ing lady among others. A revali- of glaucoma or diabetes; for sure make sure these kids can proceed
person feels good about her or dation therapist gives all trainings 80% of those illnesses are the cause in the regular system.”
himself again after losing her and operates the vision testing. and also age. A smaller group is
or his sight, only then we can She teaches patients how to work born with the illness, like premature If you would like to contact the
mean something to them. Only on the computer, typing and does babies, babies with eye disease or foundation, please call + (297)
then they accept our help and Braille classes for clients and teach- born with cataracts. “Before the 582-5222 or 582-5051 and ask
if they do we concentrate on ers as well. age range was 60 and up, but the for Cetty Baarh. For more infor-
what they want and need.” clients are getting younger, so 50 mation visit the website: http://
It does not stop there, as the as- and up is now applicable but a www.favi-aruba.org/or Face-
sistant at the school also has to growing group are young people book: FAVI. q