Kampala – For a person with a disability in Somalia, going about daily life is no walk in the park.
Two young Somali men can attest to that – Abdirahman Mohamud Kulane and Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdullahi. The pair are two of some 360,000 Somalis estimated to have some form of vision impairment.
Given their own experiences and those of the 2.5 million Somalis believed to be living with a disability, Mr. Kulane and Mr. Abdullahi have been determined to speak up and take action. The two men share a long-term commitment to raise awareness in Somalia about the rights of persons with disabilities.
In 2020, the pair co-founded the Somali Youth Organization for the Visually Impaired, or UDHAN as it’s known in its Somali acronym.
And it was with UDHAN that they recently visited the Ugandan capital of Kampala, where they spent five days receiving training on Braille production and digital inclusion – something that has been nigh-impossible to obtain in Somalia – at Kyambogo University’s Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation.
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Sunday – Departure from Mogadishu
7:30 a.m. – Accompanied by their UDHAN colleague and dedicated assistant, Hamdi Mohamed Osman, Mr. Kulane and Mr. Abdullahi are up bright and early at Mogadishu’s Adan Adde International Airport to check in and await their flight. It is not the first time any of them have flown, but it is still exciting and a different way to begin the working week.
This was their first trip abroad for such a unique training programme.
“We have certain tools and resources, like machinery, for which we had not previously received adequate training,” says Mr. Abdullahi. “This training is essential for us because it fills the gaps. We hope to acquire more knowledge and skills, and we plan to use what we have learned to benefit our people when we return to Somalia.”
Shown here, Mr. Kulane, Mr. Abdullahi and Ms. Osman (from left) heading to their aircraft at the airport in Mogadishu.
10:30 a.m. – After what feels like an interminable wait, the UDHAN team are finally on board, embarking on the 2.5-hour flight from Mogadishu to Kampala.
As they soar over the Kenyan landscape, Mr. Abdullahi feels a mix of excitement and responsibility.
“Even though I can’t see the landscape below, I imagine the vastness beneath us symbolising the distance we must cover to make disability rights a reality in Somalia,” he says.
Shown here, the view of Kampala from onboard the team’s Uganda Airlines flight.
1:30 p.m. – Once landed at Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport, situated on the shores of the stunning Lake Victoria, the UDHAN team has cleared the customs counters and collected their luggage within an hour and is soon making the 40-minute taxi trip to their hotel in Kampala.
They’re keen to beat the local afternoon rush hour, and they’re full of energy and excitement, but they’re also keen to be well-rested ahead of their first day tomorrow of their training.
“I feel the energy in the voices around me, our spirit is very high, and we look forward to being in the class,” says Mr. Kulane as they get to their hotel.
Shown here, the UDHAN team in the back of a taxi in Kampala.
Monday – Day One
8:30 a.m. – August is normally a dry weather month in Uganda, but it’s evident that the start of the rainy season is not far off. Despite the overcast morning, the UDHAN team’s enthusiasm is in no way dampened. The team members are due to meet their instructor, Kyebagadha Binasali, at Kyambogo University’s campus entrance nice and early to start their day off.
The institution is one of Uganda’s largest public universities, and its Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation is the leading and oldest institution of its kind in Uganda. It has attracted students from both within the country and the region.
“Every step here feels like progress. It’s not just about learning Braille – it’s about breaking barriers that have held back our community for too long. We know we are in a place of learning, and that excites us,” says Mr. Abdullahi.
Shown here, the UDHAN team and its Kyambogo University interlocutors at the campus entrance.
9:00 a.m. – After the introductions are over, the UDHAN group is escorted by Mr. Binasali to the visual training centre. The 36-year-old Mr. Binasali is an experienced trainer for the visually impaired, having worked with more than 670 students in recent years. He guides the team to a room filled with Braille embossers, tactile displays and digital screen readers.
“By implementing policies that genuinely embrace the inclusion of individuals with visual impairments, and by ensuring that these skills are used to provide reasonable accommodations, we can shift from a reactive approach to a more proactive one,” Mr. Binasali tells the Somali visitors.
Shown here, Mr. Binasali escorts the UDHAN team to their classroom for the next five days.
11:30 a.m. – The first morning goes by in a blur. After an introductory class on Braille and visual impairment terminology, the UDHAN team gets its first chance for a quick tryout of various tools and machines – some of which Mr. Kulane and Mr. Abdullahi had heard about but never yet experienced due to no training or no availability in Somalia.
“I can finally touch the tools that we’ve only heard about before. It’s empowering to feel the dots forming letters under my fingertips – it’s as if a world of communication is opening up,” says Mr. Abdullahi.
Shown here, Mr. Binasali shows Mr. Abdullahi how to use a braille embosser.
4:00 p.m. – But the first day’s touch of technology is just a sampler – the UDHAN team has to understand the theory, history and uses before going on to the practical training of Braille production.
Named after its inventor, Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number. It can be used by people who are blind or have low vision to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font.
For the UDHAN team the rest of the day is spent in a classroom setting, but there are no complaints.
“After a day of travelling and rest, we began our first day of training and we are very happy. We learnt the history of Braille, where it came from, who developed it, who recognized it and the first institution that recognized it,” says the 32-year-old Mr. Abdullahi. “With the terms used for blind people, low vision is called ‘partially sighted’ and total blindness is called ‘legally blind’ – this was something new to us.”
Shown here, Mr. Binasali teaching the team.
Tuesday – Day Two
9:15 a.m. – Unlike their first day of training, the second day sees Mr. Binasali focused on the practical aspects of Braille production. He introduces the young Somali activists to the various tools used for Braille production.
“During our stay here, we have learnt about various aspects of technology for people with visual impairments. We explored different types of papers used for the machines that help in reading and writing for those with visual impairments, including those associated with functions like continue and cut sheet. We also became familiar with various machines, such as Braille displays known as MVD D5, D3, and their printing capabilities. Additionally, we were introduced to tools that convert regular text and images into Braille, facilitating easier reading,” Mr. Abdullahi says.
Shown here, Mr. Binasali guides Mr. Abdullahi (seated) on a using a Braille production app.
1:30 p.m. – Kyambogo University’s Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation is a pioneering institution that has trained specialists in visual disabilities since 1988.
According to its website, the faculty is Uganda’s top institution for disability inclusion. It began at the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo and moved to the Uganda National Institute of Special Education in 1996. Its activities include operating specialized centres to facilitate hands-on learning, production of adapted assistive devices for persons with different disabilities and to extend assessment and early intervention services to the community.
The establishment’s expertise is not lost on the UDHAN team, which is keen to soak every bit of knowledge it can.
“The most important things I learned today and yesterday: we learnt about the machines you can see here, which was important for us. I was very much interested in learning about it and then pass the knowledge to the youth in our country who are really in need it,” Mr. Abdullahi says at the end of class.
Shown here, Mr. Kulane receives guidance on how to use the Braille screen reader.
3:30 p.m. – After a full day of training on the Braille technology, the UDHAN team is ready to wrap up and get some rest, albeit with unabated enthusiasm.
“Today we used different machines meant for visually-impaired people. And in the coming three days we expect to gain more skills, more than what we learnt yesterday and today!” Mr. Abdullahi says. “Each new lesson brings us closer to empowering our community.”
Shown here, Mr. Kulane tries on a pair of low-vision glasses for the first time.
Wednesday – Day Three
9:15 a.m. – Learning benefits from opportunities to interact and exchange information, and this also formed part of the UDHAN team’s programme for the week: networking with visually-impaired students from Uganda.
“Meeting others who have faced similar challenges is reassuring. It shows me that progress is possible if we work together – we may not see each other’s but we understand one another deeply,” says Mr. Kulane.
Shown here, the two groups discuss and compare notes on their experiences in their home countries in relation to people with disabilities, and societal support and structures for them to lead full lives.
4:00 p.m. – The opportunity to hear from others who have undergone similar experiences in such different settings is a boon for the UDHAN team.
“We received many visitors interested in meaningful conversations, exploring collaboration opportunities, and building networks with us,” says Ms. Osman.
Shown here, Mr. Kulane and Mr. Abdullahi farewell one of their Ugandan counterparts at the end of their day spent together.
Thursday – Day Four
10:00 a.m. – Using Braille is just one aspect of life for visually-impaired people – there are also plenty of other technology and advances which assist in their daily lives.
With this in mind, Mr. Binasali has arranged for the UDHAN team to meet with a local civil society organisation that provides specialised equipment and facilities for people with disabilities.
Special equipment plays a vital role in promoting cohesion within vulnerable groups, and, for the visually impaired, this means items for leisure activities such as board games, reading, listening, and physical activities like sports must be adapted with specialised products such as Braille cards, talking balls, and other tools for enhanced learning.
“We hope to bring similar equipment back to Somalia, ensuring more inclusive opportunities for our visually-impaired community,” says Mr. Abdullahi.
Shown here, the UDHAN team interacts with representatives from a local civil society group.
Friday – Day Five
9:30 a.m. – Mr. Binasali is a firm believer in the adage of “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” for his students and has arranged for the UDHAN team to take part in a special sports event on its last day of class: goalball.
A version of the classical football game and designed specifically for people with some form of vision impairment, goalball is a team sport in which participants compete to throw a ball past the opposing team and into their net to score points. The ball emits a ringing sound to guide the players.
It’s a friendly match, of course, but, with the assistance of their visually impaired friends, Mr. Kulane and Mr. Abdullahi are determined to make Somalia proud.
“Our dream is to one day compete in the Paralympics, representing Somalia on the international stage. We want to show the world that disability is not a barrier to pursuing your dreams,” says Mr. Kulane.
The two visiting activists are too few to make up the five-per-side team. Luckily, the Somali community in Kampala includes family and friends, and the pair are able to muster up three team-mates.
Shown here, the Somali side dons its uniforms before the start of the match.
10:15 a.m. – The UDHAN representatives are friendly in the classroom, but it’s all business on the field.
Shown here, Mr. Kulane tells players and spectators of his prediction: “We will win today.”
11:30 a.m. – The 40 minute-long match is loud and fast-paced, and the play is fun and competitive. But the local side ends up winning 3-2.
The UDHAN team is sanguine about the loss.
“The match was very exciting despite our team losing – but the main objective of the game was to foster integration,” says Mr. Kulane.
Shown here, Mr. Abdullahi in action.
3:30 p.m. – The last day of the formal programme is now over, and the UDHAN team is eager to use their remaining time to explore Kampala before returning home. The week was intensive but fun, and the team members are keen to take the next step forward.
“Truly, I am very pleased to visit the city of Kampala and Kyambogo University to attend this important training, which focuses on the use and learning of machines for visually-impaired individuals – in our country people have no knowledge on how to use these machines,” says Mr. Kulane.
Shown here, the UDHAN team strolling along a street in Kampala.
Saturday – Return flight
3:50 a.m. – It’s a night of light sleep for the UDHAN team as they’re booked in for an early morning flight to home. They are aware that they are returning home to Mogadishu somewhat changed.
“We may be leaving Kampala, but the knowledge we’ve gained is just the beginning of a new chapter for the visually-impaired community in Somalia,” says Mr. Kulane.
Shown here, the UDHAN team boarding its flight to Mogadishu.
9:30 a.m. – The UDHAN team touches down in Mogadishu. But despite the early start, they’re happy to be home.
“Returning home feels different now because we came back not just with new knowledge, but with new connections that will help us elevate the work we do in Somalia,” says Mr. Abdullahi.
Shown here, Mr. Abdullahi and Ms. Osman speaking with a flight attendant.
Sunday – Back to work
12:00 p.m. – The UDHAN team wastes no time – the next day back in the capital is the start of the working week in Somalia. The team members return to work recharged, re-energized and ready to put what they learnt to use from their office space in downtown Mogadishu.
UDHAN already has two relatively modern Braille machines. With the training its founders have received on their use they plan to expand accessibility and offer workshops to train more of their visually-impaired countrywomen and -men on their use.
Shown here, members of the UDHAN team putting into practice their newly-acquired skills.
3:30 p.m. – The UDHAN’s journey to Kampala has been one of learning, connection and growth. They return aware of the opportunity they had and the responsibility it entails.
“This experience has opened doors and built bridges between Somalia and the world, allowing us to learn from others and drive real change for our communities. It's a crucial step towards a more inclusive Somalia,” says Ms. Osman.
It’s a view shared by the United Nations and its Joint Programme on Human Rights, which supported the UDHAN team’s visit.
“Societal stigma around disability is one the toughest barriers in disability rights advocacy. This type of initiative tries to address this through empowerment, paying it forward and networking,” said the Chief of the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia’s (UNTMIS) Human Rights and Protection Group, Kirsten Young, who also serves as the representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Implemented by the Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations, the Joint Programme aims to entrench human rights in national processes through enhanced capacity and delivery of Somalia’s key ministries, institutions and mechanisms on human rights protection and accountability, and enable Somali civil society to understand and use human rights-based security and justice institutions.
