The strategic plan of ICEVI is aimed at
strengthening the activities of ICEVI at the regional level. This idea was echoed during the regional
meetings of the world conference. The
eight regions of ICEVI have become seven regions now and this has been adopted
by the Executive Committee of ICEVI. The seven regions are: Africa, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Caribbean, Pacific, and the West Asia.
The countries within each region are listed on the website of ICEVI – www.icevi.org
The regional chairpersons are in the
process of establishing strong regional committees as well as national
committees of ICEVI. In the ensuing
quadrennium, ICEVI regions will be organizing a number of regional conferences,
as well as workshops and capacity building programs. Our new regional chairpersons bring a rich
and varied professional experience to ICEVI.
Wilfred Maina
from Kenya is the Regional Chairperson of the Africa Region. As Africa
is becoming one of the focal points of ICEVI, Wilfred’s work can see a new Africa with innovative strategies to serve
children with visual impairment.
The East Asia region is chaired by Mavis Campos,
who works in CBM supported projects in the Philippines.
The Philippines has already drafted a national plan for
ICEVI and the stewardship of Mavis might see a holistic East Asia region.
Eberhard Fuchs
from Germany is the new Regional Chairperson of the Europe region.
Eberhard continues the vibrant legacy of the European region which will
be holding its first regional committee meeting at about the time you receive
this issue of Newsline.
Lucia Piccione
from Argentina is the incumbent Regional Chairperson
for the Latin
America and she
continues some of the excellent work initiated by her in the last
quinquennium.
Susan Spungin,
former Vice-President of ICEVI has taken charge of the North America and the Caribbean region.
Her stature in the field will pave the way for a variety of professional
activities in the years to come.
Jill Keeffe from Australia is the incumbent Regional Chairperson
of the Pacific region. Jill has already
started activities in many of the islands of the Pacific region; including a
recent assessment of the current situation in the newly independent East Timor.
Bhusan Punani
from India is the Regional Chairperson of the West Asia region.
Being the chairperson of the region which has the largest number of
persons with visual impairment, he and his committee face large challenges.
However, his experience and innovative nature are likely to lead to many new
developments in West
Asia.
Please welcome our regional chairs and
strengthen their programs through your active collaboration.
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