Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association

The Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) is a charity which aims to tackle the challenges associated with sight loss from both a physical and an educational standpoint. The charity provides education and vocational training, and works to promote general eye health., 

Using funds gathered in 2025 from the Positive Impact Fund, World Cruising Club has been able to support SLBWA to fund a ‘Kids Insight Educators Workshop’. This intensive professional development workshop will train 35 Vision Education Support Teachers (VEST) in evidence-based strategies for educating children who are blind or have low vision.

The workshop will cover critical focus areas including early intervention (beginning from birth), teaching young blind children, cortical visual impairment (CVI), assistive and educational technology for blind and low-vision learners, orientation and mobility, Unified English Braille (UEB) mathematics, and accessible classroom resources. Participants will also engage in hands-on “make-and-take” sessions designed to strengthen practical classroom readiness.

This project will create both an immediate and sustainable impact. Approximately 100 children per year will directly benefit from ophthalmic interventions provided during the annual Kids Insight Mission, while 35 educators will be equipped with advanced skills to better assess, support, and teach students with visual impairments.

The long-term effect extends well beyond the workshop, as trained educators apply these skills across multiple classrooms and school years, positively influencing hundreds of learners across Saint Lucia. 

Use of Future Donations

• Future donations will support the continued growth and sustainability of the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) and its integrated approach to eye health, rehabilitation, and inclusion. 

If you would like to learn more about the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association, click here https://slbwa.org/