LOFOB GETS TOP NATIONAL AWARD
THE League of Friends of the Blind (Lofob) have been recognised for their exceptional work done in the field of blindness and early childhood development (ECD).
Lofob was awarded the Best Early Childhood Development Programme for Children with Disabilities at the National Development Agency’s South African ECD Awards at a gala event last month.
This award came at a time when the organisation celebrates 85 years of service to blind and visually impaired people.
Manager of Lofob’s early childhood development programme, Benita Petersen, who received the award, said: “To be acknowledged for our work done in impacting the lives of society’s most vulnerable members is such a great honour. We are indeed motivated by this achievement to continue striving towards excellence in our service of others.”
The annual award ceremony takes place to acknowledge the positive contributions of ECD programmes and practitioners across the country in improving the quality of lives and access to education for children.
The NDA received over 3 900 applications from centres competing to be recognised for excellence, innovation, best practice and outstanding participation within the ECD sector.
Lofob’s ECD programme encompasses a wide range of services to children with visual impairments and their parents across the Western Cape.
The programme includes infant stimulation provided in homes for babies, a daily preschool programme, parent support groups, and support to learners in schools.
Co-founder of Lofob, the late Isaac Jacobs, who was blind at the age of 17, had no formal education as he was denied access to the only school for the blind due to racial segregation.
It is this that drove him to fight for equality and access to education for blind people.