The Abraha Bahta School for the Blind in Eritrea is a specialist boarding institution that supports blind and visually impaired children up to the age of 18. Despite the dedication and expertise of its teaching staff, including several blind educators, the school faced serious limitations in terms of accessible learning resources and tools to aid social development. In recognition of these challenges, the school reached out to ERA UK for support in enhancing both the educational and social experiences of its students.
The school had limited access to educational materials specifically designed to meet the learning needs of blind children. This lack of tailored resources hindered students’ ability to engage fully with the curriculum. In addition to academic barriers, there was a need to support students in developing social communication and life skills to foster a more inclusive, confident, and self-reliant community.
While the staff were experienced and committed, they required additional tools and external support to better serve the students and enrich the overall school environment.
ERA UK responded by establishing consistent communication with the school’s leadership under the auspices of the Department of Education to gain a clear understanding of their needs and priorities. A variety of educational materials and tactile learning toys were sourced and shipped from the UK, carefully selected to meet the developmental requirements of blind students.
To support the development of life skills and time management, ERA UK also provided the school with talking watches assistive devices that help children navigate their day more independently. These contributions complemented the efforts of the school’s staff and created an enriched, student-centred learning environment.
