WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.729 --> 00:00:03.000 [traffic sounds] 00:00:03.545 --> 00:00:06.064 [soft piano music] 00:00:11.546 --> 00:00:15.277 [indistinct talking at a council meeting] 00:00:17.700 --> 00:00:21.218 My name is Fazira Kauma. 00:00:22.257 --> 00:00:24.373 I am the deputy mayor of Jinja City. 00:00:24.373 --> 00:00:29.950 I have been a leader now for 13 years. 00:00:30.816 --> 00:00:35.758 But also I'm an activist in the area of disability. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:50.342 I was born with full sight. I did not go to special schools. 00:00:50.342 --> 00:00:55.445 I started getting problems when I was almost completing my A-Level studies,   00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:02.640 but I was only told the cause of the condition is a very natural one and it was irreversible. 00:01:07.860 --> 00:01:12.981 By the time this problem set in, I was completing my first diploma. 00:01:12.981 --> 00:01:16.440 That is in business studies  in the Uganda College of Commerce. 00:01:20.981 --> 00:01:25.260 Because my esteem had gone so low, you know, losing sight at teenage,  00:01:25.260 --> 00:01:28.200 you're like now with my brain is at this age: 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:33.840 "Will I produce? Will I get married? Will  I get somebody to suggest to propose to me?" 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:38.764 So you keep asking yourself so many questions.  00:01:38.764 --> 00:01:43.034 I was unable to read with my physical eyes. 00:01:43.034 --> 00:01:49.276 However, I got a volunteer that was working  with the Uganda National Association of the Blind 00:01:49.276 --> 00:01:54.530 who introduced me to Braille reading and writing and computer JAWS [screen reader]. 00:01:54.530 --> 00:01:57.454 I was quick. I learned to Braile 00:02:02.631 --> 00:02:05.755 I went and applied in Kyambogo University 00:02:06.216 --> 00:02:11.300 and I was given a diploma in community-based rehabilitation. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:15.974 But while at the university I also became a leader.   00:02:15.974 --> 00:02:21.048 I was a leader representative to the Council of Kyambogo University, 00:02:21.394 --> 00:02:28.606 which leadership position helped me a lot to raise my self-esteem and believe in myself. 00:02:31.327 --> 00:02:37.080 So when I completed my university, I come back home to Jinja. I started volunteering as a   00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:44.100 wheelchair coordinator of the Jinja District Association of the Blind, mobilizing the blind persons,  00:02:44.760 --> 00:02:49.860 making referrals, helping them be  placed appropriately, those who   00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:56.100 need medical intervention, personally the  education, those women that my counseling. 00:03:05.043 --> 00:03:07.043 [more urgent strings music] 00:03:07.043 --> 00:03:13.627 I also talk about very proudly that  I've been able to mentor a number of   00:03:13.627 --> 00:03:17.340 youths with the disabilities,  different types of disabilities. 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:22.620 You get the opportunity to interact with them but also to learn from their experience. 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:33.540 As a leader and really as woman,   any kinds, of course I cannot say all is well 00:03:33.540 --> 00:03:37.140 because the community we are  working in they're just getting used to, 00:03:37.140 --> 00:03:42.060 you know, working with people with  disability at almost higher offices. 00:03:44.160 --> 00:03:49.087 Not everybody is very positive, you know, making very negative sentiments, 00:03:49.087 --> 00:03:51.509 but it's up to you to support your confidence. 00:03:51.509 --> 00:03:53.615 How confident are you? 00:03:54.166 --> 00:03:57.451 [Kauma talking at a council meeting] 00:04:05.702 --> 00:04:10.079 So I really found the office, of course, with its own challenges, 00:04:10.079 --> 00:04:17.272 but I also draw a lot of experience from my academic qualifications. 00:04:28.860 --> 00:04:33.452 You know, but as a visually impaired person, as a  visually impaired woman, 00:04:33.452 --> 00:04:39.764 for me, I can say right now I've almost outlived that kind of consolation. 00:04:39.764 --> 00:04:42.480 Vision payment is no longer a problem, 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:49.320 but it's about how you accept. When you accept,  then you can be able to come up with   00:04:49.320 --> 00:04:54.840 coping strategies to manage the condition, live with the condition, and manage yourself,   00:04:55.740 --> 00:05:00.000 and you also be able to guide and inspire others.