PUT TO NEW USE
BLIND Retina SA volunteer Lutho Xintolo hopes to teach people across Nelson Mandela Bay the value of protecting the environment – one plastic bag at a time.
Xintolo, 27, is part of a group of visually impaired people who have produced a range of items such as papier-mache tables, stools, ecobricks, bags, hats and dresses made entirely from recyclable materials for an exhibition at the Walmer Park Shopping Centre.
The exhibition launch, which coincided with World Environment Day yesterday, will run until Saturday.
Originally from Mthatha but now living in KwaDwesi, Xintolo was diagnosed with glaucoma shortly after birth.
But armed with an honours degree in psychology, Xintolo was introduced to Retina SA three weeks ago to get practical experience in the field.
She said it was not easy to live with her condition in her earlier years, but as she grew older she became more accustomed to it.
“As a young person, you want to do everything other children do and if you find something wrong you start to ask questions,” she said.
“My thinking changed as I grew up because I realised that blind people can do the same things as people with full eyesight.”
With the assistance of recycling fundi Hilary Viljoen, the group met once a week to transform an array of recyclable materials into colourful pieces of art.
Viljoen, who has been an advocate for recycling for more than 25 years, said she became involved in the project after she was approached by Retina SA East Cape chairwoman Gail Cillie.
“They [the group] feel as if they are doing something constructive by creating awareness about taking care of the environment in their own communities,” Viljoen said.
“During the workshops someone would come up with another idea, which shows that we don’t need eyesight for our imagination to work.”
Cillie said the project, which is funded by the National Lottery, was aimed at empowering visually impaired people by introducing them to different art genres.
“The project has highlighted the fact that one can use recyclable material to generate an income,” she said.
Social worker and Retina SA volunteer Boniswa Citwa said the group’s vision ranged from slightly impaired to fully blind.
“Putting them in this group has changed their lives. They feel that they will not be judged,” she said.