Dialogues in the Dark are held in complete darkness and pair sighted individuals with a blind guide who helps them navigate an unfamiliar environment.
The dialogues are an initiative of the Synergia Foundation that connects sight-impaired people with representatives of NGOs, public institutions, businesses, and the media in order to increase the public’s understanding of the blind’s reality. For the guides, the role-reversing encounters are a confidence-boosting exercise.
The foundation’s mission is to improve the blind’s well-being by helping them achieve economic independence. One way it plans to do this is by opening a therapeutic massage facility staffed by visually impaired individuals. Synergia obtained funding for its idea after winning the 2018 competition for an NGO business plan run by the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law with support from ABF. The award will help fund courses in massage therapy for eligible individuals.
Like other awardees, Synergia’s project aims to fill a social gap by building a sustainable business.
