Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Monday 31 deceMber 2018

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You Can Help by adding some Happiness:

There is More to the

Eyes than You See

tional system is not working well, we need to getting younger, so 50 and up is now applica-
set a guideline. FAVI has ten workers, the di- ble but a growing group are young people in
rector, two teachers, bus drivers, receptionist, their twenties. This is because of the unhealthy
and cleaning lady among others. A revalida- eating lifestyle so they get diabetes that can
tion therapist gives all trainings and operates go hand-in-hand with losing sight.”
the vision testing. She teaches patients how
to work on the computer, typing and does Reach Out
Braille classes for clients and teachers as well. FAVI visits the doctors to underline the impor-
tance of referring clients to them. “We would
It does not stop there, as the assistant at the like to reach everybody, we have the knowl-
school also has to teach Braille to the parents. edge in-house and the professionals working
There are information briefings to the police here. We call on the community to be open
school and lectures within the community. to us, even if you do not have this problem
The activity coordinator takes care of all so- yourself, you might know someone in your
cial activities like trips to the beach or casino neighborhood, and friends, family and you
and bus trips, a Christmas celebration or a help a lot to inform them about us to coax
ORANJESTAD – In the year 1974 a group of en- comedy show visit. The social workers visit the them out of isolation.
thusiastic people, stimulated by the Nether- homes of the clients and organize conversa-
lands, founded the “Stichting Blindenzorg Aru- tional sessions as there are so many topics that Needs
ba” foundation. In 1975 the name was changed the clients have issues with and in this group “We would love tourists to come and see our
to the Papiamento name “Fundacion Arubano they talk and find solutions. “Depressions are facility to see what we have to offer and in-
di esnan Visualmente Incapacita,” abbrevi- common with our clients but this group helps teract with clients. Clients are always open to
ated as FAVI, easily recognizable in the com- them a lot, there is a way out. We focus on that, so call us and stop by. Every Wednes-
munity. The name FAVI nowadays is directly what they can still do and on acceptance. day we have gym class and we have other
linked to the visually impaired. Cetty Baarh, If you were able to see before and lose your classes, it would be great to show you how
Director of the foundation: “FAVI is for the blind sight it is really very difficult. When a child is we work and have you spread the word,”
and visually impaired, we are the only one on born without sight mostly the parents have Baarh says. FAVI as a foundation receives a
the island that gives guidance to this group. problems. We need to teach the child how government subsidy, mainly to pay the work-
The objective is to help and guide them with the world appears and we paint that world. ers and they have other funds from different
the main purpose to make them happy again. Their social behavior differs often from other donations. “We do activities to get funding
We focus first on happiness because when the children as their senses are more developed and we have collectors. We can only run by
person feels good about her or himself again and they express in a different way which that. We are in need of equipment and that is
after losing her or his sight, only then we can can cause misunderstandings. expensive, especially for the blind and visual-
mean something to them. Only then they ac- ly impaired, like Braille type machines, printers
cept our help and if they do we concentrate 3, 105 Visually Impaired etc. For example we have two blind children
on what they want and need.” According to Census Aruba 2010 there are on the island that follow regular education
3,105 visually impaired people. FAVI only has completely in Braille, so they have their typing
Reintegration into Society 350 clients, by percentage that is compara- machine for Braille. But the technology is ad-
Either the eye specialist or the client initiates ble to the Netherlands and Curacao. “They vancing and we need to be able to keep up
to come to FAVI. Next they go to their home do not look for help easily. The reasons are to make sure these kids can proceed in the
to see the situation and register their needs. the taboo, they are embarrassed to get out, regular system.”q
“What do you want? How is your home situa- do not want people to know and will try to ig-
tion? Do you have problems at your job? are nore it, as long as manageable. Other factors
some of the questions we ask. After that we are they do not wish to burden the family so
do a practical visual check with a revalidation they keep themselves isolated”, the director
therapist. The test is not medical but for us to explains. The majority of the clients are visually
determine the person’s visual capacity. When impaired because of glaucoma or diabetes;
a person has 30% or less they are considered for sure 80% of those illnesses are the cause
a visually impaired person.” In general people and also age. A smaller group is born with the
with a vision above that, they are not accept- illness, like premature babies, babies with eye
ed. However the exception is when their func- disease or born with cataracts. “Before the
age range was 60 and up, but the clients are

If you would like to visit the foundation, please call + (297) 582-5222 or 582-5051 and ask for Cetty Baarh. If you would like to donate, the bank
account is RBC Bank 31 36 6122 or Arubabank 7024380290. For more information visit the website: http://www.favi-aruba.org/or Facebook: FAVI.
Thank You!