| Lyna Mohamad |
THE ‘Dining in the Dark’ event is entering its final week of registration.
The event’s organiser, Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind (BDNAB), has extended the registration time from 10am to 4.30pm to 10am to 8pm since Monday to give the public more convenience in registration.
Speaking to the Bulletin, Muhammad Izan Safree bin Radat, in his capacity as the secretary for the project, added that on Friday the registration time will be from 2.30pm to 6pm.
Registration can be made at the BDNAB office in Plaza Athirah in 1 Jalan Tutong.
‘Dining in the Dark’ is being carried out for the first time by BDNAB with support from Standard Chartered Bank.
The event hopes for positive response to make it an annual event for the association.
Muhammad Izan Safree said, “Our main objectives to hold this event are to raise awareness to the public on sight issues as a main international public health issue, particularly lifestyle in terms of their food and beverage intake, while at the same time to get the public to experience what it is like for them to understand individuals who are blind or visually impaired.”
He said the project committee hopes to at least get 200 participants to participate in the first ‘Dining in the Dark’ project. Registration has reached only about 25 per cent of the target number to date.
He hoped more registrations will come in towards the final days of registration in support of the project.
Also organised in conjunction with World Sight Day celebrated every second week of October and the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3, the ‘Dining in the Dark’ event will take place on December 12 at Pisuk Bapa, Wafa Hotel and Apartment, Annajat Complex from 7.30pm.
Muhammad Izan Safree added, “During the event, selected participants will be blindfolded and use the tongkat putih (white walking stick) to enter the restaurant.Once everyone is seated, they will be presented a video on how to serve individuals who are blind or visually impaired, and how the food presentation are for these special individuals.”
Following the video presentation, participants will dish out their food served in a dorm style setting and once everybody is done with dishing their food, lights will be switched off for approximately five to seven minutes for them to eat their dinner. Lights will be switched on after the period and will be in stages from dim to bright.
Muhammad Izan Safree said, “The reason for this is to let participants experience the three different stages of blindness, namely total blindness, severe blindness and mild blindness. But while having their dinner, it will be in total darkness to give them the experience of not only how the visually impaired eat, but also how they sense what is what.”
Registration fees include food and door gift, and there will also be an entertainment showcase by BDNAB members as well as local artists invited to perform at the event.
There will also be a lucky draw with prizes for the participants, with the grand prize being a return air ticket to Kuala Lumpur.
Established on January 17, 2001, BDNAB aims to empower the nation’s blind and partially sighted by striving to promote equality and full participation in society.
Organising ‘Dining in the Dark’ is one of the association’s promotion efforts apart from other activities.
With the objectives to promote the prevention and treatment of blindness and visual impairment, BDNAB also hopes to spread objective information about the situation of the blind and partially sighted to win friends and allies in the struggle for equality and full participation in society by the visually disabled in the country.
BDNAB also keeps the blind and partially sighted informed about their rights about existing possibilities for assistance; plan, establish and hold different activities and services for the blind and partially sighted; and improve their situation in the fields of education, employment and culture.
BDNAB represents the blind and partially sighted nationally and in international affairs, and is the 159th member registered under the World Blind Union (WBU).
“We hope more participants will register in support of our initiatives. We welcome any interested parties wishing to contribute and come up with sponsorship towards this beneficial event,” Muhammad Izan Safree said.
More details are available by visiting the association’s social network platforms on Instagram and Facebook.