Josua Naulumatua Tokalaulevu, 29, said that he was very happy and proud to receive the Cane for walking which will be easy for him.

He said that he received the Cane before with difficulties following the procedures but yesterday he got it very easily by Australian High Commissioner John Feakes.

“I am very happy and proud to receive the cane because it plays a very important role in my life to walk with since I cannot see,” Mr Tokalaulevu said.

He said that the Cane tells him who he was and it was his identity.

“It helps me to walk from point A to B independently with the use of the Cane,” he said.

Devika Nandani, 24, of Navua said that she received the Cane for the first time when she was in the blind school.

She described that before she received different type of Canes to walk with comparing it to what she received yesterday.

“I can walk easily now with my new Cane with no fear of falling,” Ms Nandani said.

She said the Cane would help her to know where she would actually be going if it was near steps she would know by the Cane.

“I would like to thank the Australian High Commission for giving me the Cane for walking,” she said.

Senimelia Seru, 31, assistant project officer of United Blind Person of Fiji, said the project itself is called ‘walk with confidence’.

She said the Australian High Commission funded them with 200 Canes yesterday.

“We will distribute the white Canes to the villagers who are blind when the grant is available,” Ms Seru said.

The training on how to use the Cane will also be provided when it will be issued.

Edited by Percy Kean

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