The purpose of the project is to bring visually impaired children and youth living in Somaliland into the society through Braille and large print literacy intervention – and to enhance their social and economic functioning.

The project, now known as Somaliland Braille Centre (SBC), was initiated in 2006 by the Doses of Hope Foundation in partnership with Force Foundation (based in the Netherlands). It is the first and the only Braille teaching school to be established in Somaliland, even during the pre-war era.

Cultural and societal attitudes in the country have long hampered individuals with visual impairment. Thus, their disability includes also the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the life of their society on an equal level with others.

The idea behind establishing the teaching centre was to overcome the barriers which had caused special needs education to perform below expectations.

Impact and Results of the previous 3 years

• Establishment of a fully equipped Braille teaching centre, starting the first basic special needs education program in the country
• Visually impaired students now have the opportunity to become Braille literate and their capacity and functional quality to be improved
• Parents/family members are better able to care for their children through increased knowledge and are more favourably disposed towards them
• Policy makers are more aware of the rights of the visually impaired
• Students have formed the first association in Somaliland to advocate for the rights of the visually impaired and are generally more aware of their rights
• Students are introduced to ICT to become computer literate

Expected Results

• Inclusive education for the blind and visually impaired children in Somaliland
• 50% increase of the number of the blind children in schools
• Positive change in policy issues that support persons with special needs in Somaliland
• Stepped up efforts in community education and awareness
• Government definitions of literacy make reference to people who visually impaired
• National reports on schooling include specific reference to literacy and numeracy outcomes for students who are visually impaired

For more information, contact Doses of Hope.

Since Mustapha started to go to the Centre, he has learned some skills so that he can be useful at home. For example he can now unscrew the top of a thermos flask and pour out tea for us. And he is proud to be learning to read Braille. He even smiles and laughs. Before he went to the Centre he had stopped smiling…
(Father of Mustapha)