Could you come to the Faroe Islands?

My name is Tóra við Keldu. I am chairwoman of MEGD, which is an umbrella organization with 24- member organization working with the importance of the rights of people with disabilities in The Faroe Islands. This is primarily done through the awareness and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

YES, I come from The Faroe Islands and now you probably think: Where is that? The Faroe Islands is a self- governing archipelago, or rather 18 rocky, volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean.

So here is the reason why I write you this letter.

As chairwoman of MEGD I have, for the last three years, had different presentations where I have pointed out some of the same issues you address, namely how we see each other and how that influences your lives. The Faroe Islands is a small community and people know each other. This is in face a good think but at the same time we are, as other human beings, looking at each other with eyes “damaged”, so to say, by the media. Therefore, when I saw your pictures for the first time it gave a nice warmth to my heart.

I have often used the quote from the Little Prince: “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine de Saint- Exupéry. This is how I see the challenge. The challenge is to change how people see. I believe it is possible – through hard work.