Development

EBU considers development cooperation as a two-way partnership in an interactive process in which the project partners benefit from exchange of knowledge and experience.

Sustainable support means basing operations primarily on the partner country's own resources and know-how.

EBU's development work is carried out by the Development Commission. Our main objective is to promote and coordinate efforts towards assisting blind and partially sighted people in developing countries. Special  emphasis is placed on supporting local visually impaired organisations. The Commission also explores other avenues to assist the visually impaired in developing countries, such as the promotion of braille,  rehabilitation programmes and  the provision of  technical devices.

• Getting more EBU national members onboard the development work;
• Focusing on health care issues, including eye care as well as eye diseases and HIV/AIDS prevention;
• Updating the low-tech, low-priced assistive devices section on the EBU website; 
• Providing a forum to exchange information on development work.

Concrete steps taken so far include:

• The provision of accessible ICT equipment to the African Union of the Blind and subsequent training in using this equipment;
• Ongoing update of the low-tech, low-priced assistive devices section of the EBU website;
• The organisation of a team-building workshop with the leaders of the African Union of the Blind to improve organisational skills and working processes;
• The design of a leaflet to inform professionals outside the blind and partially sighted movement on what it means to be visually impaired  (needs, opportunities and challenges).
  

All these mesures are detailed in the plan of action.

Library

• Community Negotiations Skills - by Christopher Friend
  Specifically aimed at training branch leaders in developing countries to understand and operate with local government in order that they, and their members, can access mainstream community support and funding.
  Available from cfriend@sightsavers.org
  
  
• Sight Savers' Manual on Executive Life Skills - by Christopher Friend
  Adressed specially to young leaders in developing countries.
  Available in English and French from cfriend@sightsavers.org
  
  
• IDP book 'Empowerment of the Blind' - by Aubrey Webson
  Available in English and French from cfriend@sightsavers.org
  
  
• Community-based rehabilitation for the visually handicapped - A second-rate solution or the real way to independence? - by Arne Husveg and John Heilbrunn (May 2000)
  This booklet provides insight into community-based rehabilitation and minimum requirements which must be met when preparing and implementing any programme based on this method.
  Available in English and French from the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted