The Zero Project Conference (ZeroCon), is an annual conference that brings together stakeholders from around the world to discuss topics on disability inclusion, this year’s conference was held in Vienna, Austria by the United Nations. This year, Ganesh Singh, Programme Manager of GCOPD, in an interview with Tom Butcher, presented on the Guyana Society for the Blind’s Caribbean Secondary Examinations Programme.
The programme was established back in January 7th, 2013 due to the lack of opportunities for persons who are blind / visually impaired to receive secondary education in mainstream schools. Singh explains that the programme started with just 12 students and has since made significant strides, with over 65% of blind and visually impaired individuals between the ages of 17 and 60 completing their high school leaving exams with a pass rate of around 70%. Many of these individuals have gone on to gain employment or pursue tertiary education, leading independent and productive lives. Singh attributes the success of the program to passion, drive, and the use of technology, including online platforms like Zoom, which have made education accessible to individuals in rural areas with limited resources. Looking to the future, Singh hopes to expand the program to other Caribbean territories and formalize it through a learning management system, acknowledging the need for additional resources and technical support.
Overall, the transformative impact of technology-driven initiatives in empowering marginalized communities and emphasizes the importance of passion and determination in driving social change was highlighted.
