World Blind Union
Message
to all educators from the World Blind Union and its new president
The New WBU Leaders
WBU Regional Presidents
WBU Committee on Blind Children
Message to all educators from the World Blind Union and its new president
First of all, let me wish you all a good and successful 2002. Let us hope that all our high expectations of this year comes true.
Secondly, I would like to express my high appreciation for your work for our members, young and older, throughout the world.
As we all know, education is one of the most important issues we have to face. Without education we will not be able to change the present situation for the developing countries.
Those who need education more than any one is all blind and visually impaired children in developing countries. Not only to create understanding, but more to be able to survive and live a life in dignity.
All blind and visually impaired children need high quality of education and accessible materials as well as an high interest from the educators.
Without this interest together with a basic education of WBU members, children or adults, none of us will be able to take a step forward, develop our organisation and reach our goals.
Education is the fundamental platform for a future. It is therefore in our common interest to have a good co-operation with the ICEVI.
Because we all want the same thing and only by working together, we will be able to reach our common goals.
If WBU is to secure the leadership of the future we must rely on you!
All of us who are coming from the industrial part of the world must be aware of the enormous advantage we have. We must share this advantage with children from developing countries.
We may set up goals, action plans, and position papers, but we can not expect any action if the people concerned have no education and can neither read nor interpret what have been set up.
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to inform you about my vision and hopes for the coming four years as WBU President.
The WBU has established a number of committees and working groups. One of them is the United Nations Committee. With this committee we hope to co-operate with the United Nations and its agencies and Commissions, like for example WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, ILO and the World Bank.
Another of our working groups will work on policy, media, advocacy and information. The third example is the working group on organisational development and support to developing countries. The aim will be to strengthen the regions with leadership development, training, capacity building and democracy.
Besides those we have five committees, namely:
In order to make the committees and working groups effective, I have identified a number of cross cutting issues and among them. We have literacy, education, Braille and rehabilitation which each committee and working group should take into account.
In order to develop WBU and our individual members, I have invited ICEVI to send one representative to our newly established Committee on children, which will be chaired by Gertrude Fefoame from Ghana. Gertrude herself, is a rehabilitation teacher and will certainly provide the committee with all her experience and knowledge.
The ICEVI can for sure strengthen this committee by giving its experience and knowledge in the field and contribute where ICEVI has its expertese.
I hereby acknowledge that ICEVI has accepted and appointed Ms. Gladys Nyaga from Kenya to be part of the WBU Committee on Children. We will congratulate her and welcome her to our work!
Together we will be able to make a difference!
Yours truly
Kicki
Nordström
WBU President
The following officers were elected when WBU met for the General Assembly in Australia in 2000.
President:
Ms Kicki Nordström
World
Blind Union
SE- 122 88 Enskede
Sweden
kicki.nordstrom@iris.se
Immediate Past
President:
Dr Euclid Herie, Canada
First Vice President:
Mr Arne Husveg, Norway
Second Vice President
Dr William Rowland, South Africa
Treasurer
Mr Geoffrey Gibbs, New Zealand
Secretary General
Mr Enrique Sanz, Spain
Africa
Mr. Paul
TEZANOU
School for
the Blind
B.P. 190
Dschang
CAMEROON
paultezanou@voila.fr
West
Asia
Mr. Ghulam RABBANI BUTT
Pakistan
Association of the Blind
PAB N House
nº H-165
Street 5
committee chowk
Rawalpindi
PAKISTAN
pabn3160@apollo.net.pk
East
Asia - Pacific
Mr. KUA
Cheng Hock
Independent
Society of the Blind
417-A East
Coast Road
Singapore 429004
SINGAPORE
adaptive@singnet.com.sg
Europe
Sir John A.
WALL, MA (Oxon)
Royal
National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
224 Great
Portland Street
London W1N
6AA
UNITED
KINGDOM
cbird@rnib.org.uk
Latin
America
Ms. Gloria PENIZA
Federación Venezolana de Instituciones de Ciegos
Aptdo Postal 517
Carmelitas
1010 - Caracas
VENEZUELA
ulac@reacciun.ve
North
America/Caribbean
Mr. James SANDERS
The Sir Arthur Pearson Association of War Blinded
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8
CANADA
sanderj@east.cnib.ca
WBU Committee on Blind Children
Link person:
Ms. Kicki Nordström, Sweden
Chair:
Ms. Gertrude Fefoame, Ghana
Members:
Mr. Anil Aneja, India
Ms. Aurora
Sribuapun, Thailand
Ms. Ana Pelaez, Spain
Ms. Olga
Souza, Brazil
Ms. June Waugh, USA
Ms. Gladys Nyaga, Kenya
Gladys Nyaga is representing ICEVI. She can be reached on the following address:
Gladys Nyaga
Sight Savers International
P.O. Box
34690
Nairobi
KENYA
gnyaga@sightsavers.or.ke