Proprietor Vows to Promote Persons with Disabilities
The Proprietor of the Institute of Educational Centre for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IECBVI), Mr. Allieu Thomas has vowed to support and elevate lives of vulnerable citizens in the area of capacity building for self-reliance. (Photo: Proprietor of IECBVI, Mr. Allieu Thomas)
The astute manager who is also a disable person made this pronouncement at the organization’s office on Main Motto Road via Thomas Alieu Drive, Grafton community in the Western Area Rural District.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Alieu Thomas told this medium that the Institute was established in 2001 with the aim of promoting blind and visually impaired students in various courses to develop young disable citizens as a payback reward for the people of Sierra Leone.
Mr. Thomas noted that, in 2006, the government of Sierra Leone recognized his institute under the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MEST) which he said has inspired him to continue with his advocacy movement for the welfare of vulnerable people and even those that are not disable to have basic skills in Gara Tie Dying, Tailoring, ICT and Catering among other practical courses.
He said, his institute has offered lot of courses in line with the new technology for immediate employment opportunities adding that he has formal and informal learning courses with strong tutors who could impact knowledge to young minds for self defends.
“I also cater for people who have never entered learning institutions with basic skills in English and other important courses”, Mr. Thomas told Journalists.
He confirmed that no disable student has being paying fees since the establishments of the institute but able students are paying minimal cost for various courses they are offering for the benefit of the community and the country as a whole.
For the past years, Mr. Thomas said, he has being helping vulnerable people adding that his institute is inclusive because everyone including the poor is encouraged to participate.
Mr. Thomas spoke about the huge challenges he is facing to upkeep the centre especially the absence of pipe borne water and electricity outage.
He continued that the institute has been existing with poor quality learning materials but with strong advocacy, Mr. Thomas said, he has secured most of the needed materials for the benefit of disable students and that he will continue to engage international partners for timely support.
He said before now, he has drainage problem which was disturbing learning processes in the area but with the help of community youth and his relentless effort, the drainage is now allowing water to pass freely and mentioned that since the start of the rains, he has being organizing young people to maintain sanity around the learning centre.
He added that ,he has being knocking the doors of past administration for funds or subsidies to support blind students and that he will continue to engage the new administration of President Bio to give a helping hand so that vulnerable people can equally benefit from his free educational project.
He appealed to Non-Governmental Organizations, individuals and private institutions to support the institution to elevate blind and impaired people across the country.
By Alhassan Bangura
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2018, https:. All rights reserved.
