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Saturday 24 November 2018

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You Can Help by adding some Happiness:
There is More to the

Eyes than You See

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

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!