Disability can turn into opportunity, said Hatungimana Dismas

 Disability can turn into opportunity, said Hatungimana Dismas

Bujumbura, October 19,  2023, Gako News (Blog) On the 17 October, the International Solidarity English Club, ISEC's leaders met Mr Dismas Hatungimana,a blind young facilitator of computer science at Lycee Kanura located in Gihanga commune, Bubanza Province . Dismas ,40 years old is laureat of College of Education, Kayonza District in Rwanda.

Hatungimana Dismas is a native of Gihanga commune , Vyondo quarter nearest Gihanga Centre Jeune. He lost his mother at the age of 10 years old when he was studying in third form, primary school.

Dismas said he studied in Rwanda  from high school . He got  82 per cent  and  went to university where he studied in English Kiswahili Departement under  the US Embassy in Rwanda and Allow Children's support. This support allowed him to focus on computer sciences.After such a study he decided to come back to Burundi . Dismas is working as volonteer at Lycee Kanura located in Gihanga commune in Bubanza Province.

Dismas has warmed Burundian students who think that persons living with visual empowerment are unable to realize something important. He suggested that learners from Kanura High school can join others in American corner Kamenge to be more skilled in English. He promised to be their facilitator in terms of   braille writing assistant .

When Ferdinand Nitunga,  the chairperson of the International Solidarity English Club asked him about the Burundi blind students' challenges, Dismas replied that their challenges are so many, namely the lack of communication. He said blind students can not get information like others since braille writing is known by few persons. He noticed that the lack of knowledge in terms of language especially in English is another impairment  for their effective communication.  He also included the lack of equipment. 

Lycee Kanura has only 3 computers so I can teach braille writing, he said. He reminded people who live with any disability that the latter has become an opportunity and called upon them to network even though it is ''difficult''. If you have barriers, you can see someone who can remove these barriers, he added. Thus,  disability can turn into opportunity, said Hatungimana Dismas

Key link : https://x.com/jubasuc1/status/1714891515166638351?s=20

Describing Lycee Kanura Hatngimana Dismas said the school has 108 learners  ( primary and secondary sections) with inclusive education supported by the Burundi Government. The same teachers are teaching '' normal and pupils living with visual impairment''. These teachers had been trained to lead such schools.

With ISC's leaders Dismas Hatungimana agreed to implement an English training at American Corner Kamenge and involve students with visual impairment 

Daniel NtIranyibagira , currently a teacher at Penn Blind School and the first blind student to attend  the university studies underlined to Iwacu Magazine the  lack of materials for studies and money for daily survival is among the many challenges he faced faced with during hais cademic curriculum .

The International Solidarity English Club, ISEC aims to empower people living with disability for community inclusive education via English program to sound live natives.