White Cane Day 2022
1 October 2022 – St. Nicholas’ Home, Penang (SNH) celebrates White Cane Day every October since 1986. This year, White Cane Day takes on added importance for SNH after being called off for two years due to the pandemic.
SNH, one of the non-profit charitable organizations in Malaysia serving the blind and visually impaired (BVI) community, celebrated their White Cane Day on October 1st, 2022 at Esplanade, Penang (also known as Padang Kota Lama). Every October 15th, White Cane Day has been internationally recognized and celebrated since 1964. It celebrates the achievement of the BVI movement from dependency to active participation in society by using their important tool, the White Cane.
This year, with the support of our Penang Chief Minister YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Parliament Member of Bukit Bendera YB Tuan Wong Hon Wai, the Mayor of Penang City Council Dato’ Ar. Yew Tung Seang, Penang Chief Police Dato’ Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, Policemen, RELA, First Tejani Ambulance Services and nevertheless our co-organizer, the North Malaysia Malayalee Samajam (NMMS), a total of 150 participants, including BVIs, volunteers, and SNH staff, successfully celebrated White Cane Day with a 4-kilometer blindfolded walk in the George Town area.
We also would like to thank Malaysia Buddhist Association for donating 100 white cane to the Home for the needy BVIs every year.
The walking route started from Penang Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama), Light Street (Lebuh Light), Penang Street (Lebuh Penang), Beach Street (Lebuh Pantai), China Street Ghaut (Gat Lebuh China), passing by the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, and ended at the Cenotaph War Memorial.
The main goal of this event is to raise public awareness that every BVI citizen has the right to equal access to educational resources, equal employment opportunities, equal access to public facilities, and equal opportunities to fully participate in society, just like everyone else.