The Tonga National Visual Impairment Association (TNVIA) celebrated its 10th anniversary today, October 15, coinciding with White Cane Awareness Day. The event, themed “Empowering Vision Beyond Sight: A Decade of Inclusion, Independence, and Progress”, was inspired by the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we live by faith, not sight.”
Guest of Honour, Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Tonga Erin Gleeson, praised TNVIA’s decade of work in advocating for the visually impaired.

TNVIA Chairman, Mr. Ofeina Leka, emphasized the importance of education for the visually impaired. “A priority issue is education, getting as many of the visually impaired through formal education as the foundation for a brighter future,” said Mr. Leka. He also highlighted the organization’s advocacy efforts and its goals to expand training programs like braille.
Leka is the first visually impaired student to graduate from Tupou Tertiary Institute (TTI) with a Diploma Level 5 & Advanced Diploma Level 6 in Teaching Studies.

The event saw the unveiling of TNVIA’s new logo, representing an inclusive approach. Project Manager Fe’ofa’aki Leka explained that both male and female genders are represented in the logo.
A survey for members and carers on Tongatapu Island was also launched.

TNVIA, founded in 2014, continues to champion its mission of leaving no one behind.
White Cane Awareness Day, celebrated annually on October 15 by the National Federation of the Blind, highlights the importance of the white cane for blind individuals. The white cane enables them to lead independent lives by allowing safe and free movement in various settings, such as work, school, and their communities.