Wearing red high heels, Luwana Bartolo carefully walks along the safe path she has just mapped out for herself by tapping the ground with her white cane.

“I have about 76 pairs of high heels, but when I went completely blind two years ago, I put them all away. How would I move around with crutches and a cane when I have three young children?” the 36-year-old asked.

“The course I attended helped me face my fears… Today is the first time I’m wearing heels again. I feel great and more alive,” she added with a beaming smile.

Ms Bartolo was one of 12 people on a three-week training course in orientation and mobility for blind and visually impaired people.

The course, delivered by UK professionals, taught them to use their cane and senses to move around independently.

It was organised by the Malta Guide Dog Foundation in collaboration with the National Commission for People with Disability and funded by the Malta Community Chest Fund.

Some of the 12 visually impaired or blind people who attended a mobility and orientation course. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Sitting in the foundation’s offices in Ta’ Qali, chairman Joseph Stafrace said many of the participants were on the waiting list to get a guide dog and needed mobility training.

Student Maria Munro,17, was the youngest on the course. She has used a cane since she was 10 but has now perfected the technique.

“I used to keep the cane by my side. Now I know you’re meant to keep it in front of your body. I didn’t before since it used to get stuck in the ground and I’d get hit in the stomach,” she laughed.

Gasper Mizzi, 62, was the oldest attendee. His eyesight deteriorated two years ago when he became partially blind. Since then he only ventured outside with his wife.

The course gave him the confidence to travel alone, armed with his white cane, and he even catches buses now.

Ms Bartolo had a similar experience.

Until a few months ago she was scared to cross the road but now she knows what sounds to listen out for.

“I recently took my children to the Tigné swings. It was a bit of a shock as there were slopes. But I managed to get there and push my children. My next challenge is going to the beach,” she said.

The same goal is shared by Therese Caruana, 24, who is partially blind and would like to go to the beach with her sister, nine.

“Following a personal tragedy I lost my courage. But then I realised I could not remain afraid to go outside,” she said.

Ms Bartolo also said “Please don’t just come and grab us and startle us to help us cross the road. Speak to us first.”

She added that people also need to realise the white cane was a sign that the person was blind.

“Once someone thought I was carrying a golf club and was on my way to a gym,” said Ms Munro, whose cane had also been mistaken for a fishing rod.