NAGHAM KARAJEH

Gaza- Braille created by Louis Braille in 1824 is a tactile writing system used by people with visual impairment. Braille characters are formed using a combination of six raised dots arranged in a 3 × 2 matrix, called the braille cell. In the Gaza Strip, a project called, “Translate restaurant menus in Braille” has been launched by the Society of Women Graduates (SWG) for women and girls with visual impairment. The project aims to increase women's access to services in restaurants.

‘Women need support’

Haifa Shuhaiber, the project coordinator, told NuJINHA that the project seeks to increase women’s access to the justice sector and to provide psychological and social support services in the Gaza Strip.  “Service providers should offer services based on gender equality. They should know what women need and be more sensitive. All women need psychological, social and legal support.”

Activities of the SWG

Speaking about the activity of the SWG, she said, “The SWG aims to empower women and girls in the Gaza Strip. Until now, it has provided legal support to 60 women from different parts of the Gaza Strip. It has provided psychological and social support to 80 women. We have held awareness-raising activities and workshops to increase the number of women in decision-making positions. We have also carried out many activities to end gender-based violence by raising awareness in cooperation with various media outlets.”

 “Women still face discrimination’

Haifa Shuhaiber believes that the social role of women in the Gaza Strip leads to gender-based discrimination. “Women still face gender-based discrimination and this prevents women from participating in decision-making positions. Our project aims to support women and girls with visual impairment in society. The SWG launched this project at the end of December 2022. Until now, five restaurants in the Gaza Strip offer Braille restaurant menus to women and girls with visual impairment.”

 Iman Abu Foul, coordinating member of the SWG, said, “We saw how women and girls with visual impairment suffered because they could not read restaurant menus. When they asked for help from others, they felt embarrassed. So, we decided to launch this project to end the suffering of women and girls with visual impairment. Now, women and girls with visual impairment order what they want without asking for help from others. The SWG will continue to work to improve living conditions of women and girls with disabilities throughout the Gaza Strip.”

 ‘‘An excellent project’

Sanaa Abu Samak, a visually impaired woman, said, “The idea of translating restaurant menus in Braille is excellent and draws attention to the conditions of women and girls with visual impairment. Thanks to the project, we order whatever we want without asking for help from others. I hope this project will be launched everywhere.”