COURTESY VISIT ON RIFTB BY AFRICARE PEACE INITIATIVE: REPORT ON A COURTESY VISIT BY AFRICARE PEACE INITIATIVE 31-05-2021 BY 12: 16PM. The meeting started with a word of prayer by Tinju Samson, followed by the introduction of staff and guest. Among the staff present include: Bulus Ibrahim, Mobilization officer; Awashima Atu, Counsellor; Badung Sunday, Admin and Finance; Tinjul Samson, Project officer; Patience Bitrus, Clerical officer; Shakum Naantuam Harrison, Secretary; Ayuba Isa Waziri, Executive Director; and Barr. Sunny Ezuirike, the President of the organisation. The guests include: Joy Ibrahim Galadima (admin officer), Joy Yakubu (media and counselling team), Lilly Emmanuel (media), kefas manga (project officer) and Racheal Nicogirma the executive director of Africare peace initiative. The director of the organization (Africare initiative) Miss Recheal express her delight to visit, she said the reason for the visit is to establish relationship as the motto of their group is to show care, to see how both organizations can work together. She added that both groups can work together and help each other as their organization is aimed at collaboration on projects and execution of such projects. Miss Joy Yakubu added that it is interesting to be here with as it is a different experience entirely from what is perceived out there. Miss Lilly lament on how a lot of people out there lack the insight of seeing the bigger picture when it comes to the blind, as a lot of people don’t understand the blind. She suggest that understanding will help in project orientation and effective contribution of the blind in national building. The president of redemption international for the blind, Barr. Sunny Ezurike thanked the visitors for the courtesy visit and expressed his joy for having them around. The Executive director of redemption international for the blind in the person of Mr Ayuba Isa Waziri welcomed the visitors as well. He expressed his delight in their visit and hopes they bring. He gave the mission and vision of the organization. And he stressed that the blind are people who can contribute meaningfully to the society and the reason for the foundation of the organization. To assist and rehabilitate the blind who are lacking in education and academic pursuit due to lack of learning materials. He welcomed them ones more and told them that they are in the right place, as the worst hit among people with disabilities is the blind. He said the blind doesn’t want pity but support. They are the smartest yet the most abused across different cultures and religion. He revealed that one of the causes of blindness now is diabetes as the number of blind is increasing every day. He lamented that apart from Gindiri School for the blind, there is no other school for the blind in the state, not even a government established one. Mr. Badung commended the visitors for their zeal and passion. He told the guests that redemption international for the blind is aim at restoring hope and respect for the blind. He said hopes have been shattered due to inaccessibility of study materials for the blind starting from the kindergarten to the university. The president of redemption international for the blind Barr. Sunny Ezurike thanked the guest for taking out time to pay the organization a visit. He points out among his staff are people who were sighted but for some reasons they are now blind. He said that blindness is a condition that can be contacted at any time but what is important is the ability to quickly lift such people up as soon as it occurs. The president showed our guests a brail book, and asked if anyone amongst them could read it. He gave them the organizations’ hand book which is written in print and told them that he produced the hand book. He lamented that though he produced the book in that original source using his computer, yet he and any other blind person cannot read it until it is produced in braille, or indeed, any other accessible format to the blind. In the school setting, the blind students buy their books and other study materials in a format most inaccessible to them; yet, they end up being judged on the same standards with their sighted colleagues. What an injustice? The blind man is highly gifted but with little or no materials to help them maximize their potentials, there can be no magic that will make it any less difficult for them to function effectively in the society. He express his joy and told the guests how happy he is to engage with them and whatever project they intend to carry out with the organization. The director of Afripeace initiative thank the president of redemption international for the blind for having them. She said that the need for social media is very important. She said they use their platforms to create awareness for people to assist in different ways they can as they have helped few people through that. She express her displeasure on how the government and corporate organizations neglected the visually impaired. She encourage everyone to be strong and persistent in the quest and promise to use their social media platforms to support the course of the visually impaired. Lastly she express how delighted she is to align with the organization. She concluded by thanking the organization for having them. The high point of the visits was the taking of pictures and chit chats amongst both organizations. The meeting ended by 1: 43pm.