Every morning, a special school tuk-tuk stops in front of Urielle’s home and takes her to the Training Centre for children with vision impairments.

There, from seven-thirty until midday, she is immersed in her lessons.

Courses are taught by teachers with vision impairment, assisted by sighted teachers, using Braille teaching aids.

The Centre follows the standard curriculum of the Ministry of National Education. It is also where Urielle learned to read and write in Braille. These critical skills have unlocked a world of knowledge and stories for her, tools that will enable her to achieve her dream of becoming a radio journalist.

“I love sharing stories with people, especially about social issues. My favorite subject is social science – because I like to hear about how people across the world live, interact and face challenges.”

While Urielle is thriving in school today, the road to her education hasn’t been easy in a society where stigma still exists around people with disabilities. Urielle recalls, "Some neighbors and even relatives used to tell me I was useless, better suited for chores than school. But thanks to my parents' unwavering support, I learned to ignore those voices."

Shutting out the nay-sayers around her, Urielle understands the power of education in broadening her horizons and building the future that she wants for herself.

“The more I learn, the more stories unfold in my mind. I envision myself exploring new cities, encountering other young people and sharing in their adventures. That’s why I am determined to become a journalist.”

The Centre also runs vocational training courses to build skills including in basket-making, saponification and caning. Past students have used these new skills to gain employment, and five have even gone on to join the civil service.

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