BUJUMBURA, March 11 (BC) – At the University of Burundi (UB), there are only nine blind students. Nine young people are pursuing their studies in a university world where most knowledge is now acquired through screens and the internet. Among them are Aloys Nimbona and his sister Goreth Nsabimana. Having become blind at the age of eight, they are pursuing their studies with remarkable determination, despite an invisible but constant obstacle : a digital world that remains largely inaccessible.
At eight years old, the world of Nimbona and his sister Nsabimana gradually darkened. A rare genetic disease robbed them of their sight. Yet, it never managed to shatter their dreams. Today, the two young people are continuing their studies at the University of Burundi. And already, it feels like a victory. In a country where very few blind people reach higher education, their presence in university classrooms is a testament to an uncommon determination.
But once they get there, another obstacle appears–more discreet, less visible, yet very real : the internet.
Indeed, in political speeches and at major international conferences, internet access is often presented as a fundamental right, an open door to knowledge, opportunities, and the world. Yet, for millions of people living with a visual impairment, this door remains difficult to cross. According to the Organisation mondiale de la santé, more than 2.2 billion people worldwide live with a visual impairment.
A childhood turned upside down
Initially, their childhood resembled that of many other children : they played in the yard, went to school, and dreamed, like all children, of a future full of promise. But one day, that began to change.
First, their vision became blurred, slowly and almost imperceptibly. Reading became more difficult, Recognizing faces, too. The family thought it was a temporary problem–perhaps an illness that would heal with time. But, as the weeks went by, the situation worsened.
Both children lost their sight at the age of eight. For their parents, Dionise Simbahunga and Léonie Nicélate Nzoyisaba, the shock was immense. Seeing two children plunge into darkness almost simultaneously is an ordeal few families can imagine.
For Nsabimana, living without sight does not mean giving up. Over the years, she has learned to move forward in a different way. Each difficulty has forced her to adapt, to find new ways to learn and understand the world. This inner strength, fueled by resilience, has become her compass. Where others would see a limit, she chooses to find a path. « Life has taught me to adapt, » she says calmly. « When one door closes, you simply have to learn to open another ».
So, one question kept recurring, heavy and unspoken : what future awaited them in a society still poorly adapted to visual impairment ?
Yet, their parents made a choice–simple but courageous one : not to give up. Little by little, Nimbona and Nsabimana learned to live differently. They began to listen more than they looked. To memorize more than they read. In other words, they discovered other ways to learn and understand the world. The journey was never easy. Obstacles kept piling up, but their determination remained unwavering.
In the shadow of blindness, the light of university
Year after year, they patiently carried on with their studies. Today, Aloys Nimbona is in his second year in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Burundi. His sister, Nsabimana, is studying in the Faculty of Journalism and Communication. Their presence at the university already represents a small victory against the odds. But their journey also reveals a reality that is still too rarely discussed : for blind people, success often requires twice the effort.
Studying Without Adapted Tools
For Nimbona, the difficulties begin as soon as he has to use a computer. “The difficulties are numerous,” he says. In the university’s computer labs, computers do exist. But they are not configured for visually impaired students : “The machines are not adapted. It is very difficult to use them,” he explains.
Gradually, even computer classes become a time of silent exclusion. While other students use the computers, visually impaired students often find themselves left behind : “We can’t easily use the computers,” he reveals. However, in an academic world where research now takes place online, this situation becomes an additional handicap.
Fending for oneself with Limited Solutions
So, to keep progressing, Nimbona had to find his own solutions. He uses free software called NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access). This program acts as a screen reader. In other words, he reads aloud everything that appears on the computer. “When I type or navigate on the computer, the application reads the information,” he explains.
On their smartphones, he and his sister also activate the built-in accessibility features. These tools help them continue their studies. But they remain limited: first, because not everyone can afford a personal computer; second, because some phones capable of supporting these applications are still too expensive.
A silent digital exclusion
In reality, what Nimbona and his sister are experiencing is not exceptional. Worldwide, people living with disabilities represent a significant portion of the population. According to the Organisation des Nations Unies, approximately 1.3 billion people, or nearly 16% of the world’s population, live with a disability. Many visually impaired people in Burundi face the same difficulties. This is particularly true of Constance Katihabwa, founder of the association « Live Together as a Family, » which advocates for the rights of people with albinism.
In her office, she holds her phone in her hands. She slowly brings it close to her face until the screen almost touches her eyes. Her gaze becomes focused, almost motionless. One can feel the efforts: she slightly squints, as if trying to coax a few words from the screen’s light. One might think the gesture seems simple. But watching her closely, you understand that it requires immense concentration. Each sentence she tries to read seems to cost her a little more time, a little more energy.
She scrolls the screen with her fingertip, very slowly. Then she brings the phone even closer, almost touching her face, to make out the letters. This subtle and silent scene speaks volumes. She recounts the daily experiences of many visually impaired people: a digital world designed for easy viewing, but which, for them, requires constant effort simply to read a few lines.
She lives with albinism. And, like many people with albinism, she suffers from vision problems related to a lack of melanin: « People with albinism often have very limited vision, » she explains. For example, photophobia makes using a screen particularly difficult. Light quickly becomes unbearable. Added to this is another problem: the lack of adapted tools. « Machines and phones are not configured to facilitate use by visually impaired people, » she specifies.
Opportunities that go unnoticed
The lack of digital accessibility is not limited to technical difficulty. It can also close the door to important opportunities. Today, a large portion of information is shared online first, including calls for projects, scholarships, training programs, and job offers. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Union internationale des télécommunications, nearly 67% of the world’s population now uses the internet. But for blind people, this access often remains limited when platforms are not designed to be accessible: « There are many opportunities that we are unaware of, » explains Katihabwa. « And sometimes, even school research becomes a real obstacle course, » she adds.
A Challenge That Transcends Borders
This problem extends far beyond Burundi’s borders. The issue was also raised at the Internet Governance Forum 2025, held in Lillestrøm, Norway, from June 23 to 27, 2025. Ghanaian activist Sarah Kekeli Akunor, committed to the rights of people with disabilities, drew attention to these obstacles. According to her, many digital platforms remain incompatible with screen readers used by blind people.
In other words, when websites are not designed with accessibility in mind, they become almost impossible to use for some internet users. Yet, solutions exist: the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG, allow developers to make websites more accessible. However, in practice, they are still too rarely applied. The problem also stems from the design of the digital platforms themselves. Indeed, a study conducted by Web Accessibility In Mind (WebAIM) reveals that more than 96% of website homepages still contain accessibility errors for blind people.
“Nothing about us without us”
For Kekeli, the solution begins with one simple thing: listening to those affected: “You can’t design solutions for us if you don’t know our needs,” she insists. Her message can be summed up in a few words: “Nothing about us without us.” According to her, people with disabilities must be involved in decision-making, the design of digital platforms, and public policy.
A simple request
In Burundi, Nimbona makes a seemingly simple request. He simply wants the university to recognize the needs of visually impaired students: “Internet access is a right for everyone,” he states.
For him, a few measures could already make a difference: installing adapted computers in libraries, equipping computer labs with accessibility software, and, above all, training teachers in digital inclusion. Though simple, these measures can transform the daily lives of many students.
Navigating a world they cannot see
Every day, Nimbona and his sister continue to navigate a world they can no longer see. But their struggle is not just about studying. It also aims to remind us of an obvious truth: a truly universal internet must be accessible to everyone, including those who cannot see. For blind people, the challenge is not limited to living in a world they can no longer see. It also involves accessing the digital world that now shapes our lives.
By Jean de Dieu Ndikumasabo