Urielle's Vision: A Journey of Determination and Dreams

Twenty-year-old Urielle Mbrego dreams of a future in radio journalism. Despite being a visually impaired student, Urielle is determined to make her dream come true.

“I lost my eyesight at the age of three but that did not stop me,” she shares. “From my tender age, my parents taught me to be independent and self-reliant. The taught me to work hard and follow my dreams.”

Urielle's self-discipline has fueled her routine. Each day, a special school tuk-tuk picks her up from home, and by seven thirty sharp, she's immersed in her studies until midday.

"Storytelling is my passion,” she shared. “I love sharing stories with people. I know the road is long and that I have at least six more years before university. Still, one day, I'll have my own radio show!".

Urielle is one of the 76 children and young people studying at the Centre d’Alphabetisation et de Formation en Braille pour les Aveugles en Centrafrique (CAFBAC), an educational facility located in the Damala neighbourhood of Bangui which was founded in 2007 by a visually impaired evangelical pastor.

In the small room where she studies at the CAFBAC, she fingers dance across Braille sheets, deciphering the raised characters with practiced ease. At the centre, she follows the standard curriculum of the Ministry of National Education as well as its school calendar, from the introductory cycle to writing in Braille. The courses are taught by visually impaired teachers assisted by sighted teachers, using Braille teaching aids.

Urielle describes herself as “curious”: “I love sharing stories with people, especially about social issues. My favorite subject is social science – because I like to hear about how people across the world live, interact, and face challenges. The more I learn, the more stories unfold in my mind. I envision myself exploring new cities, encountering other young people, and sharing in their adventures. That’s why I am determined to become a journalist.”

Her zest for life extends beyond journalism. “I also want to be a paralympic athlete," she declares. "I train three times a week in long-distance running!"

Though her life wasn't always filled with the joy of learning, dancing, and sports, a shadow falls on her smile as she remembers the discouragement. "Some neighbors and even relatives," she recalls, "used to tell me I was useless, better suited for chores than school. But thanks to my parents' unwavering support, I learned to ignore those voices."

This same energy translates to her classmates: “I always advise them to study and work hard. I insist that no matter what some people might tell us, being visually impaired doesn’t mean we are unproductive”.

Since it was set up in 2007, CAFBAC has trained more than 200 visually impaired people, some of whom are now taking charge of their own lives thanks to the basket-making, saponification, and caning courses, with five of them have already joined the civil service. Thanks to the support of UNICEF through funding from Norway and Education Cannot Wait, this year, CAFBAC is opening two additional centres outside of the capital Bangui.

Optimistic: Urielle’s smile widens again: "I'll keep studying hard," she declares. "Don't be surprised."