The Alchemy World AWSEC for the visually impaired opened its gates in January 2009 in Sidist Kilo in Addis Ababa.

This is the second centre for the blind opened by Alchemy World thanks to the generous support of Alec Reed and his Ethiopiaid Foundation based in London.

 

Here also the curriculum is geared towards social entrepreneurship for the blind, that is the formation of young business entrepreneurs with a social conscience.

 

The school in Sidist Kilo opened with 16 students aged between 18 and 28, all from very poor backgrounds and with a grade 12 education. The class is situated at the Ethiopian National Association of the Blind. 

 

By March 2009 the students had already made good progress in the English language. They also learned how to use a computer and how to type as well as MS Word. The Business lessons will start in April 2009.

 

We have also contacted several specialist eye doctors in different clinics to examine the eyes and the diseases of our students. After finding out that most of them have not been seen by doctors for several years, we would like to determine if there is a pssoible cure for some of them. If they can be treated either by surgery or with the prescription of eyeglasses, we would rather have them attend our regular entrepreneurship centres. However, this would represent only a small percentage of the group.

 

We are pleased to announce that we found opthamologists in the Menelik Hospital who are willing to volunteer for our organization and to conduct the checkups cost-free. They will visit the school at the beginning of April 2009.