Out Loud Audiobooks Makes The Gift of Storytelling A Possibility For The Blind And Visually Impaired
Justin Dynia | WeINSPIRE Contributor
BOSTON, MA -- Our voices are always more powerful than we know. From London to Spain to South Korea, volunteers around the world are lending their voices to bring the joys of storytelling to blind and visually impaired children.
Out Loud Audiobooks is a non-profit organization founded by Kathleen Fowlds that allows volunteers to donate their time to record sections of books for blind and visually impaired children at schools for the blind. Visually impaired children do not have the same access to literature, as many notable works cannot be found for free or at all in an accessible audio form. Current projects include Emma, Peter Pan, and The Three Musketeers.
Out Loud Audiobooks graphic. Courtesy of Out Loud Audiobooks.
The organization works closely with the Jairos Jiri School for the Blind, Zimbabwe, Light for the World, DRC, Thika School for the Blind, Kenya, Nhat Hong Center for the Blind, Vietnam.
One of Out Loud’s key features is the ease that volunteers can donate their time. For those wanting to make a difference but not knowing how, taking a few minutes out of each day to record their voice can be a significant contribution to the current projects. The work is simple, can be done independently, and is extremely rewarding.
The idea for Out Loud started while Fowlds worked with a nun in a convent for three months. She worked on stocking libraries with books with Sister Kate, a 94-year-old nun with an unwavering passion for enriching the minds of Zimbabwean youth.
Kathleen Fowlds. Courtesy of Kathleen.Fowlds via Instagram.
“It’s absolutely astonishing to see so many kids with so much potential and ambition have their opportunities diminished because they don’t have access to a fully stocked library,” said Fowlds.
Fowlds grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe acutely aware of the various societal inequities present. The nation has a significantly high poverty rate, with 38.3% of Zimbabweans facing extreme poverty in 2020. The high poverty rate makes basic needs like education inaccessible for most, especially those with learning disabilities.
She hopes to raise awareness for the lack of resources children in the blind community have in their education.
“We don’t have schools that are equipped for kids with learning difficulties. It’s not on most peoples’ radar,” said Fowlds.
Fowlds commended the selfless attitude of Zimbabweans and credited her fellow country people for being a source of motivation. She shared several stories relating to random acts of kindness and compassion from strangers who are always open and vulnerable with each other. The sharing of the stories has formed a rare and universal trust amongst all members within the community.
“Every single person in this county I come across inspires me,” Fowlds said. “I would be tone-deaf to not feel inspired on a daily basis being surrounded by people that are so resilient and strong.”
Courtesy of Kathleen Fowlds via Instagram.
Out Loud Audiobooks has garnered hundreds of volunteers and social media followers since its inception, going beyond the initial expectations she had for the project.
“I’ve learned so much about global expansion and connecting unique voices from around the world. It’s a project that’s far greater than one person.”
Fowlds will return to her studies at Sorbonne University in Paris in August and plans to pursue a degree in History with a focus in African studies. She hopes to use her bilingual abilities and experience to promote growth and development at home while changing the narrative on perceptions of Africa for the rest of the world.
“Africa is not a lost cause; it’s an opportunity,” said Fowlds.
Completed audiobooks will be on sale in early 2022, and all proceeds will be donated directly to the charities and institutions involved. For anyone hoping to make a difference, you can donate your own time to help record a few chapters of the audiobooks. You can find more information on the website here.
