It is with humbleness and pride that I have stepped into the position of the President of the European Blind Union. Being the first female President and the who is younger than the organization itself feels remarkable and exciting. I believe in the power of representation and hope that in the future the selection of a younger female will no longer be considered exceptional. Rather, I wish to support EBU in recognizing its strengths and challenging its practices so that in four years time our organization will be even more inclusive, inviting, and influential, representing blind and partially sighted Europeans regardless of their gender, age or ethnic background.
The previous term was my first in the Board of the European Blind Union. It was a term of learning, transforming and adjusting – both for me personally and for our organization. My first child was born only a month after the General Assembly in Rome and I took part in the first Board meeting in Prague in February 2020 remotely when nobody could expect that soon this would be our new normal. During the term 2019-2024 blind and partially sighted people across Europe first faced a global pandemic and then witnessed a war on our continent and an influx of refugees, both with and without disabilities.
These changes in our working and living environment have taught us resilience and forced us into a solutions-oriented mindset. The General Assembly in Lisbon was a joyous get-together where we could feel the appreciation for the time spent together – something that we no longer take for granted.
In the coming years we are looking into making use of everything we have learnt during the past years – and during the 40 years of EBU’s history. The multiple means of online participation have allowed our community to develop new, dynamic ways to connect with each other in webinars, thematic discussions and other online events bridging across Europe. Making use of what we know and pushing ourselves to develop new practices that strengthen EBU’s inclusivity and unity, is truly important in the years to come.
I am not expecting this term to be easier than the previous one. Climate and environmental challenges, political instability, the rise of voices criticizing human rights and the financial challenges that Europe is facing have a huge impact on all citizens with disabilities. A strong and united EBU that has tight connections to the wider disability movement is the only way for us to defend the right to full participation and inclusion for blind and partially sighted people across Europe.
Tytti Matsinen, EBU President