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South African Library for the Blind putting blind people at the forefront – MyPR.co.za

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South African Library for the Blind putting blind people at the forefront:

Let the Blind People talk: The South African Library for the Blind, in partnership with Rhodes Music Radio, today announced a first a radio show for and by blind people aimed at the the blind people living in Makhanda.

Grahamstown, 2 September 2019 – Helen Keller couldn’t have said it better, “Blindness cuts us off from things, but deafness cuts us off from people,” this guided our decision to spearhead a radio show for blind people run and presented by blind people, said Francois Hendrikz, SA Library for the Blind (SALB) Director.

As part of our 100 Year Celebrations, the South African Library for the Blind (which is the only Library for the Blind in Africa) announced a radio show which will be broadcast every Saturday at 11:00 on Rhodes Music Radio to be found at 89.7.

“We believe that blind people are entitled to information like all other citizens. There are also issues blind people deal with which they can share to help each other.

The aim of the radio show is to share information with the aim to capacitate, inform, and educate blind people and other people listening to the show. We need to do everything in our power to provide opportunities for blind people where we can”

The show, titled The Blind Voice, will speak to local issues that surround blind people, it will focus on capacitating blind people with information needed to get by and it will serve as a “meeting place” for blind persons. It will provide a platform for blind people to engage, exchange and learn from one another.

38-Year-Old partially sighted presenter, Thobela Nxuzula would like to see himself become a motivational speaker seeking to encourage other blind people interested in the same profession. “I was born in Grahamstown, partially sighted, but that doesn’t stop me from seeking to live a normal life,” he said.

“I would like to thank SALB and Rhodes Music Radio for providing an opportunity for us, as blind people, to make our dreams come true,” he concluded.

His co-host, 30 Year Old Lubabalo Soxujwa lost his sight as a young man. He was doing Grade 10 and this presented him a challenge attempting to finish his studies through high school and college. “I am very excited about this opportunity. I can’t wait to interview legendary blind and partially sighted people who are breaking ground but have not been afforded the fame yet,” he said.

Mihle Bango, RMR89.7FM programming manager acknowledged that the task will not be easy as it is an unknown territory. However, it is in line with the station’s vision to reach and impact on every life. She said, “Radio is considered a blind media and it’s about time the blind community put that to the test”

Hendrikz concluded by saying: “We do have plans to extend the show to other provincial radio stations. We would like to invite everyone within the Rhodes Music Radio reach to listen in on the show every Saturday commencing 7 September 2019, on 89.7FM.”

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Source: MyPR.

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