This Women’s Month, PLDT and Smart celebrate empowered women who have made lasting impact on the lives of many Filipinos. This includes Roi Louise Buenaventura, a 23-year-old person with vision impairment from Taytay, Rizal, who has proven that it is still possible to be of help to many people despite her limitations.

Roi was born without any impairment, but her life drastically changed when she developed uveitis back in grade school. Her eyes suffered from inflammation, causing her vision to blur, and eventually leaving her totally blind.

Although difficult to accept, her condition did not prevent her from moving forward. Roi persevered to learn skills without depending on her sight and became a trainee of the non-profit organization ATRIEV or Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired.

ATRIEV empowers persons with vision impairment by conducting digital training to uplift the lives of these individuals with the help of technology. Through Roi’s persistence, she is now one of ATRIEV’s trainers who capacitates persons with disabilities across the country.

“It was hard for me to embrace my situation at first as there was no hope for me to recover,” she shared. “But when I joined ATRIEV, I discovered stories of persons with vision impairment who are now successful individuals. Here I found my purpose – that is to inspire and help my fellow persons with disabilities continue with their lives regardless of their circumstance.”

Recently, Roi was given the chance to be the lead trainer of ATRIEV’s eight-day Digital Business Basics Training (DBBT) for persons with disabilities in Mandaue City in collaboration with PLDT, Smart, Voice Philippines, and the Mandaue City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO). Roi and her team equipped entrepreneurs with disabilities with basic knowledge on various digital tools and marketing strategies which they can utilize to expand their businesses online.

“I am beyond grateful to ATRIEV and our partners for giving me the opportunity to further my advocacy. I may have lost my sense of sight, but my hope for a more inclusive society lives on,” said Roi. “I would like to encourage all persons with disabilities to not let other people’s opinion stop you from reaching your dreams. Continue to live your life because you deserve it,” said Roi.

Through PLDT and Smart’s pioneering inclusion program, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy through Technology or IDEATe, the PLDT Group continues to provide opportunities to vulnerable sectors in society, such as women and persons with disabilities. This is also aligned with its commitment to helping the country achieve UNSDG No. 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and UNSDG No. 10: Reduced Inequalities.