VISUALLY IMPAIRED SPONSORSHIP AND SUPPORT PROGRAM (VISSP)
THE BEAUTIFUL BEGINNING
In 2006, FOP founders, Steve and Pam Zicker, were approached by a single 8th grade blind student who was facing a problem living on his own and completing his education. His simple request for help has evolved into the Visually Impaired Sponsorship and Support Program (VISSP) that is managed by both SENEthiopia and ORE. The program has impacted more than 200 students in the past 18 years and has enabled more than 100 visually impaired students to graduate from University or a Teachers College and move to independence.
WHY THE NEED?
According to NIH, approximately 1.8% of the population (2.1 million people)in Ethiopia is blind and 3.7% (4.4 million people) experience low vision, which approximates nearly 6.5 million people combined out of their population of 120 million people. These individuals suffer with lack of supports, limited opportunities in education, and families are often forced to send children to boarding schools located in a few key cities, hide them at home, or allow them to be exploited for the purpose of begging at churches and in large cities.
FROM BOARDING SCHOOL TO INDEPENDENT LIVING
Our students are referred from the Mekelle Boarding School for the Blind, which educates and houses more than 90 children from age 7 up to 18. When these students are discharged after 8th grade, they are forced to enroll in a local school, rent a small house on their own, and live independently while trying to complete their education. The VISSP program exists to provide students in 9th grade through University the tools needed to complete their education and live independently for years to come.
HOW WE HELP
Through the VISSP, 87 visually impaired students receive a monthly stipend to help with rent and food costs, monthly social worker follow-up, and medical assistance. They also have access to other supports through SENEthiopia that empower them in completing their education from grade 9 up to graduating University. Students have access to laptops computers once they enter University and to computer classes with JAWS software and assistive technology devices along with Braille typewriters. This enables them to have greater chances of success in school and the community.
Sponsors for this program at the GOLD ($50/mo), SILVER ($25/mo) or BRONZE ($15/mo) levels receive bi-annual reports on the progress of the students and program.