Union Malienne Des Aveugles
| UMAV - Union Malienne Des Aveugles | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Information | |
| Type | Integrated school and centre for the blind and partially sighted |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Secular |
| Established | 1972 |
| Founder | Ismael Konate |
| Specialist | Blind and partially sighted |
| President | Moumouni Diarra |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Age | 4 to 20 |
| Enrollment | 350 (Jan 2012) |
| Website | http://www.umav-mali.org/ |
UMAV
UMAV (Union Malienne Des Aveugles) is a union for the blind in Mali. It consists of a primary school, secondary school, optical clinic, opticians, vocational workshops, a sound library and recreational area and plans for a college are under way.
It is the only provider of education for the blind or partially sighted in the whole of Mali.
From the schools, there have been 85 blind and visually impaired graduates with 83 integrated in the public and private sector.
Schools
UMAV consists of three schools, in the cities of Bamako, Gao and Segou.
Philosophy
"Blindness is not inevitable. Let us work together to save our fellow men, so that solidarity is no longer an empty word in Mali. Above all , do not forget our friends the children, because it takes all the work of a life to relieve the suffering of a child".
History
Founded in September 1972 by Ismael Konate under the name Malian Association for the Welfare of the Blind (AMPSA), it was later renamed UMAV in 1984.
Objectives
- Undertake a screening campaign for the prevention and eye care for a notorious decrease of the blind in Mali and in close collaboration with the government.
- Ensure standardization, socialization and access to education and culture of the child blind and put on an equal footing as clear seeing his comrade.
- Fight against begging in cities ensuring the psychological and social blind in order to find suitable employment and retain.
- Avoid the rural exodus of the blind through education and integration into the community.
To achieve its objectives, it is implementing the following programs:
- Program of prevention of blindness;
- Special education program and integration of blind children;
- Program of socio-economic integration of the blind of the urban world;
- Program of socio-economic integration of the blind mode areas.