The Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind (BDNAB) on Wednesday night hosted over 100 individuals to a ‘Dining in the Dark’ event at An-Naura Hall, Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex with the aim of raising awareness on the day-to-day challenges faced by the visually-impaired.
The charity dinner, supported by Pantai Jerudong Specialist Centre, also sought to raise funds for BDNAB in conjunction with International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Among the attendees were Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU) Chairman Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Alimin bin Haji Abdul Wahab as the guest of honour and his spouse.
BDNAB President Mohammad Hamzi bin Omar, in his speech at the dinner, urged the diners to undergo vision screening regularly to keep blindness at bay.
He also highlighted the programmes conducted by the association prior to the COVID-19 outbreak were to increase public understanding of the daily life of the blind.
“This is the first time such an event is held since the lifting of the pandemic restrictions,” he said.
Attendees were blindfolded throughout the dinner, which the association hoped would provide them with a better experience of a world without vision. The night featured performances by BDNAB member Dayangku Soffiezah binti Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar. – James Kon
