By Kennis Lou

“I treasure my life, not just because I can’t see the world, but because I know that things deserve to be difficult," said Ka Chon, a helper in the Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind in Macau. The visually impaired have never seen themselves as the “disabled," but help people with their limited ability.

The Centre was created with the support from the American Foundation For Overseas Blind Inc in 1960, and has been directed and managed by the Macao Holy House of Mercy since 1963. The Centre provides visually impaired people with different interest classes, a recreational activity room, and special computer equipment, etc. The Centre was once a handicraft workshop and was turned into an activity center for the visually impaired to recreate and help them get into society healthily. There are around 50 members. They join interest classes to obtain techniques like playing Chinese and Western musical instruments, weaving rattan, using computers, and learning Braille (language for the Blind). They also make the best of themselves to help others, like knitting sweaters for the elderly in old age homes.

Janet Leung Sut Mui, director of the Centre, has been working in the Centre for 10 years. “I just wanted to find a stable job when I started working here 10 years ago," said Leung. “But my mind is different now." She gradually realized that the visually impaired act no differently from ordinary people when they are in places they are familiar with.

Managing all affairs in the Centre by herself, Leung’s goal is to develop more and diversified functions in the Centre. Furthermore, the Centre is developing a food bank to help the underprivileged.

Ka Chon, suffered from congenital glaucoma, turned blind since he was six. He is a young, lively and optimistic guy. “I can’t see the beauty of the world, but I can devote more to it and make it a better place," said Ka Chon.

Through media, like television, he realized that there are people in different parts of the world who need more help than he does. “Living in a small city like Macao, we are still better off than people in many other places." This thought motivates him to take part in many voluntary works like teaching Braille to other visually impaired or helping out in old age homes and orphanages.

According to Ka Chon, facilities for the disabled in Macao are insufficient. Especially in places far away from the Centre, they would get lost easily. He added that even the civic awareness of citizens varies in different districts; citizens living near the Centre have a better sense to help the blind which makes them feel better on the street. Besides, the bare special path (special pavement for the blind) does not reach the standard, he could hardly feel the path, and it sometime ends in the middle of the road which brings them inconvenience to go out alone, said Ka Chon.

“The Centre is like another home for them. I hope I could do more to help them," said Leung. “I am pleased that they treasure and enjoy their lives here." These visually impaired do not give up their chance and bring others burden, instead, they make use of their little efforts to make their lives more meaningful and to help people who they think really need help. They deserve our support and appreciation.