Massage Offers Blind Cambodians Way Out of Poverty
Cambodia has one of the largest rates of blind people in the world. There are about 144,000 blind people in the country representing 1.
WATCH VIDEO, . Blind people in Cambodia face an uphillstruggle. Discrimination against the blind is widespread and educational employmentopportunities are few and far between. One way out of their predicament isworking as a masseuse. "Seeing hands" massage shops in Cambodia offeremployment and educational opportunities to the blind while at the same timeoffering visitors an ideal way to relax. Cambodia has one of the largest rates of blind people in the world. Thereare about 144,000 blind people in the country representing 1.25 percent of thepopulation according to the Association of the Blind. Cambodia poor health care system means that common diseases like chickenpox and measles leave many people blind. Traffic accidents, and accidents withunexploded bombs left over from three decades of conflict, are other leadingcauses. For the blind in Cambodia, educational and employment opportunities are few andfar between. Boun Mao, the Director of the Association of the Blind in Cambodia (ABC),lost his sight in 1993 when robbers threw acid in his face. He says thatdiscrimination against the blind is widespread in Cambodia. Boun Mao: "People here believe in Karma. They thinkthat you are punished in this life for the bad things you did in a past life.Because of that there is a lot of discrimination against the blind in thissociety. There is even discrimination against the blind within the family.” One of the few opportunities that blind people have to earn a livingis as a masseur. About a dozen so-called "seeing-hands" massage shopshave opened in Phnom Penh in recent years. Blind massage shops are run on acooperative basis. About half of the profits go to salaries with the restreinvested in the employees, teaching them life skills such as learningcomputers and reading brail. By offering the blind an opportunity to earn aliving they are able to regain their independence and self respect . Landmine survivor So Pary says that becoming a masseurchanged his life. So Pary: "I was blinded while I was planting rice and I hit a landminewith my hoe. After that my family picked on me a lot because I couldn't do anywork. Something had to change and then this organisation taught me massage andnow I'm happy because I can work again and help my family.” Many customers say that blind masseuses are better because they havea better sense of touch. Harriet Pegden and Tony Rice from London, Englandenjoyed the experience. Tony Rice: "Well I'd recommend a blind massage to anyone really. It'sintense, accurate - they found a weak a weak spot I've got and it's a really goodthing for people to come and do when they're in Cambodia.” Harriet Pegden: "Because they're more sensitive with their hands because Isuppose, being blind you spend most of your time feeling around the world andyou have a more accurate kind of sense - they feel muscles more intensely.” A massage at a "Seeing Hands" massage shop typically costabout $5 for one hour but with fewer tourists around these days, better dealsare often available. So as well as good value for money, having a blind massageallows you to feel great while at the same time helping some of Cambodia’s mostvulnerable people. This report was provided by APTN.