Celebrating White Cane Day

“Give them your eyes…..give them an opportunity to ‘see’ the world as you see”, is the theme of this year’s International White Cane Day, which will be celebrated in Sri Lanka on October 19. White Cane Day celebrates the achievements of people who are visually impaired across the globe. Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC will once again join the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) in marking the event this year.

First introduced in the 1920s in the U.S.A, the ‘white cane’, is the blind man’s symbol, his guide and protector. “The slogan ‘Give them your eyes’ simply means treat the blind equally. Provide them similar opportunities and do not simply discard them,” CEO/Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC Kishu Gomes said at a press conference at the Galle Face Hotel last week. “The blind man too has many capabilities. It is opportunity that they lack,” he said.

The ‘White Cane Walk’, organized by Chevron and SLFVH which aims to bring together over 1000 visually impaired people will commence from the open air theatre at the Viharamaha Devi park at 2 p.m. and end at the Public Library. An awareness meeting will be held at the Public Library at 4 p.m.

Chevron has also awarded a self-employment package to talented blind musician Bernard Fernando who had lacked the necessary funds to purchase proper equipment.

Chevron has been associated with the sight and hearing impaired community of Sri Lanka for many years through its many social responsibility projects aimed at uplifting their living standards. Since 2001 the organisation has conducted various projects involving the deaf and blind schools across the country such as allocating funds for the purchase of equipment and organizing sports projects.

Last year, in marking White Cane Day in Sri Lanka, Chevron offered self employment packages for 50 visually handicapped people and awarded scholarships to 10 A’L students selected by SLFVH.“Through these projects we aim to create awareness amongst the general community encouraging greater assistance to support the activities and endeavours of this special group of people,” Mr. Gomes said.