Harvard i-lab | 2013 President's Challenge Presentation -- Empowerment Through Integration

TL;DR

Empowerment Through Integration aims to empower blind youth through education, skills development, and societal change, bridging the gap in educational opportunities for visually impaired individuals.

Transcript

so we are empowerment through integration our mission is to empower blind youth through equipping them with life skills so they become authors of the future when i was seven years old one day i woke up and i had completely lost my vision i remember running to my mom and telling her what happened and she hugged me really tightly and she told me that... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖤 Sight impairment is a global issue, with millions of visually impaired individuals lacking educational opportunities, particularly in developing countries.
• 😘 Lebanon is one such country with a low percentage of blind individuals accessing education, highlighting the need for organizations like Empowerment Through Integration.
• 🙈 The organization follows a comprehensive model that includes skill-building, mentorship, and societal change to empower blind youth.
• 🙈 Empowerment Through Integration has made a significant impact by empowering over 100 blind youth, equipping them with skills, confidence, and the ability to pursue their dreams.
• ❓ Sustainability is crucial for the organization, both operationally and financially, and they have leveraged partnerships, grants, and donations to support their programs.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the primary mission of Empowerment Through Integration?

The mission of Empowerment Through Integration is to empower blind youth by equipping them with life skills so they can become authors of their future, breaking the barriers imposed by society.

Q: How does Empowerment Through Integration implement its model?

The organization employs a five-step approach, starting with identifying the challenges faced by blind youth. They then teach the necessary skills to overcome these challenges, providing a safe environment for application and practice. Transitioning to the next stage of life is facilitated, and feedback is sought to improve the program further.

Q: What programs does Empowerment Through Integration offer?

One of the programs they offer is Camp Rafiki, a two-week summer program that combines intensive skill-building sessions with a fun summer camp experience. They also have the Vita Fellowship, which provides mentoring and assistance to blind youth in achieving their dreams and future goals.

Q: How does Empowerment Through Integration work towards societal change?

Empowerment Through Integration recognizes the importance of not only empowering individuals but also changing the society they live in. They have programs aimed at identifying ways to challenge societal norms and work towards a more inclusive and accommodating environment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• There are approximately 300 million visually impaired people worldwide, with only 90% living in developing countries and 2% attending school.

• Lebanon is one such country with a low percentage of blind individuals attending school, with only 300 out of 66,000 blind individuals accessing education.

• Empowerment Through Integration follows a five-step model to empower blind youth, including identifying challenges, learning necessary skills, applying skills in a safe environment, transitioning to the next stage of life, and seeking feedback for program improvement.