Bud Keith Scholarship Fund for the Blind

Since 2008, PCPF has funded a program to enable needy, visually-impaired Panamanians become financially self-sufficient. From the beginning, we’ve partnered with a private organization in Panama, the Patronato Luz del Ciego (Light for the Blind Foundation). The Patronato’s exclusive mission is to provide rehabilitation services for the blind in Panama.

The fund is named for Bud Keith, a blind Peace Corps volunteer who served at Panama’s Helen Keller School for the Blind in the 1960s. Read Bud Keith's Biography.

The program began by providing financial support for two students. As donations have permitted, the number of Bud Keith Scholars has grown and the program has funded additional employment-related activities.

We've provided six kinds of help:

Career Counseling

Read about the seminar we sponsored for blind high school and college students. Successful blind professionals described their careers and answered questions from the students.

Mobility Training

Mobility training helps visually impaired people travel independently using a cane. So far we've trained 25 people.

Employment Experience

We’ve provided work experience to three people. Read about the different approaches we’ve tried.

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Scholarships

We have provided scholarships for 14 students. Meet the most recent students; read their stories.

On-the-Job training

Read about computer training we provided to several people to help them keep their jobs or advance.

Vocational Training

We supported vocational training for six people, who went on to sell their handiwork at a craft fair.