Gustavo Mujica

"The human being does not see with his eyes, but with his brain. Proof of that is that when you dream, you do it with your eyes closed. Being blind does not mean living in darkness". (locatel.com.ve, 2011)

He lost his vision in a car accident in 1978 when he was 17. "I was on a weekend trip with some friends in Rio Chico, a town on Miranda. There were only two people injured in the accident: The driver, who suffered injuries to his spine, and me, with multiple fractures in the face". After the head fractures healed, and upon much debate between specialists and medics, he was given the news that he would not regain his vision again. (locatel.com.ve, 2011)

A MILLION METRES FOR VIDAL
In February 2006, he took part in the Million Metre Swim, a tribute to the late Rafael Vidal, the only Venezuelan to win an Olympic medal in swimming. More than 14 million metres were swum by the participating swimmers, some of whom came from Venezuela and others who came from abroad. Mujica was one of the first to arrive for the swim. He said Vidal defended the idea that everything in life is to be obtained with effort and dedication. (eluniversal.com, 13 Feb 2006)

EDUCATION SUPPORT
At the time of his accident, he had been admitted in a Venezuelan University, but due to his injuries he could not start his education. Thanks to the Mendoza Foundation, and the program Enterprises For The Blind he received the economic support to go to a rehabilitation centre in Little Rock, USA. When he came back, he had already decided to return to the US to go to University. To achieve that he received economic support from the Education Department. (locatel.com.ve, 2011)