The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), in partnership with the Ministry of Education through the Office of the Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) for Special Education Needs/Disability, successfully hosted its 2026 Independent Living Skills Camp for children who are blind and visually impaired from July 22–24, 2026.
The three-day camp was made possible through the generous support of the United Women for Special Children and ExxonMobil Guyana, reflecting a shared commitment to promoting inclusion, independence, and equal opportunities for children with disabilities.
A total of 24 children who are blind and visually impaired from Regions 3 and 4 participated in the camp. The participants were selected by their respective Special Education Needs (SEN) Officers in collaboration with their teachers.
The camp was designed to empower children with practical skills that foster confidence, independence, and self-reliance. The overarching goal was to equip participants with the knowledge and abilities needed to lead independent, productive, and fulfilling lives as persons with disabilities.
Throughout the camp, participants engaged in a variety of interactive and hands-on activities aimed at developing essential independent living skills, including:
- Organisation and personal management skills
- Orientation and mobility techniques
- Home management and independent living strategies
- Tactile discrimination and sensory development through mystery bag activities
- Financial literacy through practical buying and selling exercises
- STEM and robotics activities, including building robot cars
- Simple science experiments
- Adaptive sports and recreation, including blind cricket and golf
- Team-building and social interaction activities designed to promote communication, collaboration, and self-confidence
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Friday, July 24, 2026, Dr. Keon Cheong, Assistant Chief Education Officer (Special Education Needs/Disability), underscored the importance of equipping children with disabilities with practical life skills from an early age.
“Independent living skills are fundamental to ensuring that children with disabilities grow into confident, capable, and independent adults. Programmes such as this camp provide opportunities for children to learn through experience while building the confidence needed to participate fully in their homes, schools, and communities,” Dr. Cheong stated.
He also commended the strong partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, noting that collaborative initiatives such as this continue to strengthen inclusive education and improve outcomes for learners with disabilities.
Mr. Ganesh Singh, Programme Manager of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, highlighted the transformative impact of the camp.
“For many of these children, this camp represents far more than three days of activities. It provides opportunities to develop lifelong skills, build friendships, increase self-confidence, and discover that blindness or visual impairment should never be a barrier to living an independent and meaningful life. We remain committed to creating opportunities that empower children with disabilities to realise their full potential,” Mr. Singh said.
The GCOPD extends its sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Education, the United Women for Special Children, ExxonMobil Guyana, teachers, SEN Officers, volunteers, facilitators, and parents whose dedication and support contributed to the success of the camp.
