In Fiji, a remarkable story unfolds as a child who was never meant to see is now able to read, not with their eyes but through the touch of raised dots on a page, thanks to the transformed vision of Barbara Farouk and her dedicated team. Barbara, who initially worked as the treasurer for the Tavua Town Council, made the transition to the Fiji Society for the Blind in 2000 after being encouraged by her family to embrace a new direction in her career.
Taking on the role of executive director soon after she started, Barbara faced immense challenges, particularly as she had no prior experience with special needs children. However, her perspective shifted, and she developed a deep passion for supporting the visually impaired and blind community in Fiji. After 25 years in this role, she now leads the only organization dedicated to assisting blind and visually impaired Fijians, managing a school, a hostel, and various rehabilitation programs that have benefitted nearly 20,000 individuals.
A significant part of Barbara’s work involves reaching out directly to parents in villages and health centers. She emphasizes the importance of personal interaction to address parental concerns about sending their children to school and to combat the stigma surrounding disability that was prevalent when she began. Over the years, her efforts have led to a notable increase in acceptance, with around 500 students having passed through the school, many advancing to higher education.
Success stories from the Fiji Society for the Blind illustrate the potential of these children. Alumni of the organization have gone on to achieve remarkable accomplishments, including pursuing degrees, working in significant roles such as project managers, and contributing back to the community as qualified professionals.
Despite these successes, maintaining the organization remains a challenge. Essential tools, like Braille machines and software, can be prohibitively expensive, with limited funding from governmental grants. Barbara heavily relies on support from high commissions, corporate sponsors, and donations to keep the society operational.
Advocacy for disability rights is another critical aspect of Barbara’s work. She has been instrumental in shaping national disability policy, pushing for the inclusion of special needs children in mainstream education, a practice more common in countries like Australia and New Zealand. Barbara emphasizes the need to focus on children’s abilities rather than their disabilities, encouraging all schools to be inclusive.
In a personal touch, Barbara’s daughter also embraced the call for change in special needs education, retraining as a special needs teacher and serving as the assistant headteacher at Nausori Special School, showcasing a family dedication to improving services for those with disabilities.
Barbara calls on parents with children who have vision impairments to take action and contact the Fiji Society for the Blind, highlighting that education is a fundamental right for every child. Through the collective efforts of individuals like Barbara Farouk, the future holds hope for brighter opportunities for those in Fiji with visual impairments.
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