Jummai Dande is a single lady with blindness, she from a family of seven children, the only female among six male children of her late parents and the only one with disability. She joined the community of persons with disabilities at the age of fifteen years as a result of a knife of accident, after she completed her primary school but was yet to start secondary school, when the incident happened. She is from Rimi village in langtang North local government of plateau state.
She had a chat with our team, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle when they visited Langtang North as part of our ongoing project being sponsored by Oxfam Voice and she spoke about her challenges as a blind lady.
TQM. How did your disability actually happened?
A family pig got badly entangled with rope, l took a knife to cut the rope, in an attempt to free the pig, while l was struggling and the pig was equally struggling, some how the knife hit my eyes and l later became blind as a result that, even after several treatment in the hospital, I could not see again.
TQM. Mentioned that, your parents are late, who is providing for you?
One of my elder brothers is the one who have been providing for me, and he have been sick for the pass seventeen years now.
TQM. Were you able to continue with your education after you became blind?
I changed school, because, l cannot continue in the regular school without orientation, so l went to school for the blind children Gindiri, in Mangu local government plateau state. And repeated my primary school there. I completed in 2017. But could not go further because my brother who have been providing and paying for my education have been sick and he has ran out of resources as a result of medical bills and other domestic responsibilities like feeding.
TQM. Are you doing anything, like trading or any hand work to get little money?
No, l am in a very small community with separate houses, with very little opportunity beside, l don’t even have money or training to do any thing.
TQM. Have you received any assistance either from the government or organization before?
No, l have not.
TQM. What would you like to appeal for, from the government, individuals or organization?
I really would like to be educated and be trained in skills. l am therefore appealing to the government and other person to come to my assistance with a scholarship, so that, l would have education and vocational training, may be through that, God would bless me and make my life better. I am thankful to you, as l await your assistance.
TQM. We wish you Gods grace in all things.
Amen, and Thank you.
