The Blind Leading The Blind

At 5:30 Saturday morning, Waters Fanuell left his home on foot. His first destination, the home of his best friend, Blessings Gamma. His Saturday morning stroll takes him down a two-mile unpaved road, to the main road to Chikwawa. Another six miles south along the two-lane highway, he arrives, meets with Blessings and the two men continue south for another five and a half miles to Hope Village. The come seeking help.

Both men, articulate, smart and in their 30’s, had been in secondary school (similar to high school and junior college combined) until last December. A combination of lack of funds and dealing with heavy flooding, caused them to have to leave school. Both men are married with two young children.

They need to finish school in order to get a job that will allow them to support their families. Upon graduation (only 13% of students graduate), Blessings chances of becoming a teacher are very high and Waters should have very little problem becoming a social worker - he wants to help people. These men have a much higher chance than average of getting into these professions because there are special programs in Malawi that help blind people get jobs.

Blessings Gamma - blinded at age three from measles.

Blessings and Waters - blind students in need.

Yes, both Waters and Blessings are blind. Waters, blind since birth, can see some shadows and vague outlines of shapes. Blessings, completely blind, lost his sight at age three due to measles. Blessings is married to a blind woman, who also completely lost her sight as a child, due to disease.

Blessings and his family in front of his home.

We met this little girl, obviously malnourished, while visiting Blessings. She lives in this house with her mother and baby brother,  about 30 meters from Blessings home. On Tuesday, we are returning with special food for her.

A normal site in the villages of Malawi. There is a large tear in his pants and rarely does a young boy have underwear.

Leanne interviews the men to learn some of their specific needs. They need sponsors to pay for their schooling.
Two years left - total cost, about $1,200 for each man. Contact me if you would like to help sponsor.

Waters gave an impressive demonstration of writing brail. Very fast!
The paper is very expensive so they asked  me to help them get special laptop computers.
They mentioned that they are aware that the American Institute for the Blind might be able to help. If we can find people willing to donate specifically for laptop computers ...

These businesses were fairly popular until mobile phones took over in the last decade. Virtually all service is pre-paid. Both Don and Leanne ran out of time yesterday.  

Abusa Godwins carries a bag of rice we donated to Waters family.

Inside Waters home, Leanne greets his daughter.

I think Waters daghter is not accustomed to seeing azungu.
She cried several times as we attempted to interact with her.

Waters and his family. They live 13 kilometers from Hope Village. This is outside of the "catchment" so any help this family receives must come from an organisation or individuals other than Hope Village. Annie's Closet will deliver clothes to the children of Blessings and Waters.

More interviewing. We wanted to learn how Waters wife is able to keep food on the children's bellies by gardening while Waters is in school. If there is drought or famine, this becomes much more difficult.