Visually impaired students benefit from swimming session

The Guyana Society for the Blind and the visually impaired (GSBVI) today commenced the second staging of their Independent Living Skills day camp, which will equip their students with critical life skills.
The camp, which is quickly becoming an annual fixture, is the brainchild of the GSBVI, and the initiative allows students to learn basic skills and sport, which they may find useful in their future lives.
The four-day initiative began on Wednesday with the students being introduced to, or refreshing their memory in, the sport of swimming, which is also seen as a vital life skill. Swimming Instructor Marvalyn Durant was present at the Tower Hotel pool to teach the participants. Executive member of the organization Ganesh Singh elaborated on the reasoning behind the event.
“The main, or the overall, goal of this camp is to help promote and build that level of independence amongst the children who are blind and visually impaired. (It is) also to empower them with other life skills that they will need as they grow and take their rightful place in society,” he stated.
He explained that because of their disability, the students are often deprived of basic skills which are readily available to others. Another factor he explained, is their lack of socialisation.
“Many of them really do not socialise with their sighted contemporaries, and that’s a major problem. So their interpersonal skills are lacking. In having this camp, we’ll definitely try to work on those skills. We can do it in four days, but we’ll at least work and give them some tips that they can build on,” Singh explained.
Aside from this morning’s swimming activities, the students will be introduced to blind cricket over the course of their camp.
Singh also took the opportunity to extend gratitude to those persons who played a key role in making the camp a reality.
“Publically, I must thank the Minister of Education, Honourable Nicolette Henry, and her team at the Ministry, because they came on board and sponsored in a significant way. Also, I must thank Roshan Khan, Ms. Gaitree Shivsankar, Tower Suites and the Malteenoes Sports Club,” Singh said.