The Samoa Blind Persons Association (S.B.P.A.) is hosting a three-day leadership members forum focusing on the theme "the power of equality."

The S.B.P.A. President, Mataafa Faatino Utumapu, told the Samoa Observer the forum strives to ensure that persons who are blind and visually impaired are able to discuss and achieve the future they want.

The three-day seminar is being held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Sogi.

She said the organisation will celebrate their different achievements with its members through the use of the white cane as a tool to achieve equality for all and to remove barriers to participation and inclusion in all aspects of society.

"It is also an opportunity for the organisation and its members to come together and explore discuss and raise awareness of the different basic services that are available to support them especially for women and girls who are blind and visually impaired," Mataafa said.

She further stated that it is an opportunity to address leadership skills and improve their members' leadership skills to instill good governance as a tool to achieve effective and efficient organisations.

"We hope that by the end of the forum women and girls for instance will be able to understand what is available for them in terms of the services," Mataafa added. 

She reiterated that they will also be able to develop and endorse their second strategic plan for the years 2022 to 2025.

The forum will also be an opportunity to raise awareness on the significance of white canes, and a documentary on the white cane as a tool will also be screen.

She is hoping that by the end of the forum, participants will be able to understand how to use it.

The "power of equality" is an initiative of the S.B.P.A. to provide a platform for members to come together and discuss the future they want, create opportunities to engage, discuss and explore possibilities for women and girls who are blind and visually impaired to access essential services and information to achieve equality for all.