August 25 may be an ordinary day for you but a special day for ORBIS Kids Sight Friends who gained exceptional experience and a chance of reviewing their own lives.

On that day, "Kids Sight Friends Blind Experience Workshop" was held. Seats for the workshop were limited but enrollment was great, with about 70 donors and their guests selected by lot to join.

The morning was a session for parents and children. They were given a stick and led through an Africa village in total darkness, by the lead of guides who are blind themselves. In an hour of darkness, they overcome fear to experience the situation of a blind person and understood the world once again using sound, touch and scent. Amidst the complete darkness, some parents were so anxious that they called their children's names repeatedly while some kids were so frightened that they gripped their parents' clothes tightly. Once back to the light, all participants were impressed, "a brief blind experience was scary enough. I can't imagine how visually-impaired children live in lifelong darkness." Some kids said, "I will take good care of my eyes and treasure my sight from today!"

Other activities on the day included simple eye test and eye care talk conducted by Vision Friendly volunteers. Parent-child pairs also learnt to write a thank-you card by Braille slates and stylis (writing tools of the blind). They found writing and reading Braille words were difficult. Also, the kids realized they should cherish their opportunities to read and write at schools.

It was individual session in the afternoon. In addition to the activities mentioned, participants also took part in "AIDS Experience". By the end of day, they understood they should cherish life as happiness was not guaranteed. They also learnt to help the needy whenever possible.

The meaningful day ended in happiness. Thanks for your support and encouragement. Various "Kids Sight Friends" events will keep coming to let you join us together and bring light to even more blind kids worldwide!

To know more about "Kids Sight Friends" monthly donation program, please visit www.orbis.org.hk/kidsfriends.