Born in 1984, in the modest town of Kolda in Senegal, Dieynabou Baldé grew up facing significant challenges. In a family with limited resources, she was unable to attend school. “I didn’t have the opportunity to study,” she recalls. “I stayed home to help with household chores because my family couldn’t afford to send me to school.”
From an early age, she worked to support her family, contributing to the education of her younger siblings. “I worked as a housekeeper to help my mother pay for my brothers’ schooling. The money I earned was used to buy their school supplies and cover their tuition,” she says.
Dieynabou’s life took a difficult turn when, at 18, she began to lose her sight just days before her planned wedding. “I wasn’t born blind. A week before my wedding, I started having pain in my eyes, and soon after, I lost my vision.” Despite countless visits to hospitals, her condition remained unchanged. Accepting her fate, she faced yet another setback when her fiancé called off the wedding due to her blindness. But her story didn’t end there. Today, she works as a radio presenter at a local station, hosting a show that advocates for people with disabilities. Though the position is unpaid, it has given her a sense of purpose and empowerment.
Her life took another positive turn when she became a beneficiary of our Introduction to Computer Basics for Visually Impaired People (ICB4VI) program, implemented in partnership with the ITU. The program opened new doors giving her access to digital tools that were once unimaginable. Over three weeks at the CDEPS in Kolda, she learned how to use a computer and discovered new ways to communicate and engage with the world around her. Before the training, she had never had the chance to use a computer. “I didn’t know how to read or write, and using technology was foreign. But thanks to the course, I now know how to type, read, and write with the help of a computer,” she proudly shares. “For the first time, I can write my name and use a keyboard. This knowledge has given me a newfound sense of independence and confidence.”
The impact of the ICB4VI program extends beyond just technical skills. It has empowered Dieynabou to think about new possibilities for her future. “I am grateful to the ST Foundation, my trainer, and everyone involved in this program,” she says. “This training has changed my life, and I am eager to continue learning. I hope to buy a computer soon, so I can be even more effective at the radio station, where I aim to amplify the voices of people with disabilities.”