At just 24 years old, Iradukunda Christine from Gatare Sector, Nyamagabe District, is rewriting the story of what it means to live with visual impairment. Once defined by isolation and self-doubt, she is now embracing a future filled with confidence, skills, and hope after joining the Masaka Resource Centre for the Blind.
Christine says her childhood was marked by loneliness because she was unable to play with other children like her peers.
Growing up with a visual impairment, she often felt different and believed there were many things she would never be able to achieve.
“I grew up feeling different from everyone else. I couldn’t play like the other children, and that made me believe there were many things I would never be able to do,” she recalls.
As the years passed, those feelings of discouragement only deepened.
Everything changed when people who knew her family introduced her to the Masaka Resource Centre for the Blind (MRCB). In February, she made the life-changing decision to enroll.
“When I arrived in February, I was nervous at first, but I immediately began learning Braille.”
The first days were challenging, but Christine remained determined.
Just one week into her Braille lessons, she began reading and writing vowels—a milestone that completely changed how she viewed herself.
“The first week was difficult, but after that I began to realise that I was capable. Little by little, my confidence started coming back.”
Beyond Braille literacy, Christine also received training in agriculture, which helped her realise that blindness is not a barrier to productive work.
She says the practical skills she acquired have given her a new perspective on life and strengthened her belief that people with visual impairments can contribute meaningfully to society.
Today, Christine hopes to use the knowledge and skills she gained at the Masaka Resource Centre to build an independent life and make a positive contribution to her community.
She also has a message for other children and young people living with visual impairments.
“I encourage them not to lose hope. They should know that they are capable of achieving great things.”
Looking to the future, Christine says the confidence she has gained now allows her to dream of a better life—one in which she is independent, self-reliant, and able to inspire others through her own journey.
Her story is another powerful reminder that, with access to rehabilitation, education, and opportunity, persons with visual impairments can overcome barriers and build lives filled with purpose and possibility.