IT is not easy to draw a picture of a child who is visually impaired but is eager to attend school and play with other children. But Ms Mwaka Juma Mussa (43), caring for five such children of her own has a different story.
Her struggle to raise the children involves making sure that they never miss school and have enough time to play.

Mwaka looks pooped, but stable in her house partly roofed with coconut leaves and loose iron sheets. It was lunch time and her young visually impaired son was demanding something to eat.

The mother and other family members are observing the Holy Month of Ramadhan.

The mother was just planning of what to cook for Iftar (meal after fast ends at sunset). But since children are not supposed to fast, the blind son named Abdullahi, aged four was hungry.

"I thank God for what He has given me. Raising five blind children is not a simple thing. I am happy with them, despite their visual impairment. The children have been growing well, with impressing performance in school," she said. Raising blind children is an experience filled with adventure! Some days are hectic, others are peaceful.

Some days you celebrate your achievements and other days you have to cope with bad news concerning their health. But despite poverty, I never think of ignoring parenting my blind children! Mgeni-Haji, a famous small village in the central district of Unguja, where Mwaka lives with her children is known for its fertile land producing spices and other foodstuff like cassava, a popular dish in Zanzibar.

The village's popularity has grown in recent days after news about Mwaka with her five visually impaired children spread. Four children are blind, while one has multiple disabilities: Blind, dumb and mental disorders. All the five lovely children: Omar (22), Maimuna (14), Ramla (11), Thuwaiba (9), and Abdullahi (4) are believed to have been born with the physical problems. The problems were easily recognised.

"It has been a big challenge to me and my husband Mr Iddi Riziki Ussi (45). We have managed to raise the children in a difficult environment and poverty," explains Mwaka Juma who got married at the age of 17. Mwaka said that she is a mother of nine children, but the five developed visual disabilities.

SOURCE: ALLAfrica.com