In December of 1989, Charles Taylor led a rebellion named the National Patriotic Front of Liberia composed of oppressed peoples by the Liberian government. Over its seven-year span, two hundred thousand were killed, and displaced a million others in refugee camps. Kamara faced both of these when he lost his father in the war and was subjected to leaving for Guinea in 1995.

 

One morning while washing his face, he found a newfound drive to make the most of his life.

 

“There was a time when I used to feel so discouraged,” Kamara explained. “There are other blind people who are successful and who have done something great. I'm not the first and I will no be the lad. As long as humans exist, disability will continue and I cannot let that stop me from being great too.

 

His journey towards increasing resources for those with visual or physical impairments began in Guinea. Dec. 3, 1998, was the first celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Gathered in an open forum event were high-ranked representatives whom Kamara said believed people with disabilities couldn’t do anything which is where he stepped in. 

 

“What assistance have you given us that we have not proven to be what you say we are not,” he said to the officials. “Because if you just facilitate us and give us what we want to improve ourselves, I think we can do better.”

 

The statements made were enough to win the debate and as a result, the Association for Persons with Disabilities sector in Guinea was founded with Kamara as the President. As he recruited individuals to the program, Handicap International – a French organization founded to provide better living conditions to people with disabilities – caught wind of Kamara’s efforts which landed him a partnership and job with them. 

 

Handicap International did much with amputees, but Kamara was concerned there wasn’t enough attention towards the blind and voiced his opinions on necessary improvements. 

 

 “If you help us to read and write we will do the rest ourselves,” he said.

 

Following this encounter, he and others started a three-month course learning how to read and write braille. Upon returning to the Kountaya refugee camp in 2002, he opened the Community School for the Blind.

 

Kamara eventually arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts through a resettlement program in 2007. When he visited doctors they told him the nerve damage was too extensive and he’d be blind forever, which to many would be a burden but for Kamara, it was a relief.

 

“I told the doctors thanks,” he said. “You have given me an idea. I will no longer think about seeing, but rather how can I make use of this planet to be an effective person.”

 

Rilley Gborgar is a fellow refugee from Liberia but did not meet Kamara until 2018 through her sister who was a nurse. She believes his ability to help others is one of his most defining qualities.

 

“He doesn’t look at his condition that people should feel sorry for him, Gborgar explained. “He instead looks at how he can help others and that is something I admire about him.”

 

Joan Gallo met Kamara through the East Baptist Church when she felt compelled to assist his family in adjusting to the area. From the early beginnings of their relationship, Kamara’s energy and positivity rubbed off on other people.

 

“He encourages other people,” Gallo said. “He just never gives up and he said he's just always doing something new to push himself.”

 

Gallo is still very active in helping Kamara when in need, driving him home from church once every month or two and taking him to the grocery store occasionally.

 

On the topic of his own motivations, 

 

Kamara returned to schooling and in 2012 started his first semester at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Over this past Summer, he completed his master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling. He said he gets to apply his degree every day just by being a positive person for others.

 

In 2021 he worked with the National Braille Press through a Summer internship. Vice President of Development and Major Gifts Joe Quintanilla was intrigued by his work ethic and Kamara’s electrician background aided him in landing a job with the organization.

 

“I just thought wow, he's pretty committed and he wants to work …he wants to be able to do something meaningful,” Quintanilla said.

 

Quintanilla also introduced Kamara to his newest passion beep baseball, an altered form of baseball meant for the visually impaired. He was the coach of a newly founded team called Boston Strong and thought Kamara made a great candidate to be on the team. Despite his age and never playing the sport before, the 62-year-old took on the challenge.

 

“I just got so interested in the sport,” Kamara said. “I now had a way for me to do exercise at home and another opportunity to use my time.”

Kamara gets much enjoyment from proving people wrong about his incapabilities and rather than telling how he can accomplish these tasks, he’d prefer to show them.

 

“People they ask me ‘Well how can you play baseball,’ and I tell them to come out and watch me.”

 

Over this past Summer Gborgar had the opportunity to spectate a game because she had to see it for herself.

 

“When he told me he was playing a sport I told him that can’t be true,” she said. “When I saw it I was no longer shocked, but I remembered that it was just George. He’s always gonna find a way.”

 

Gborgar is confident if it wasn’t for his loss of vision, he could be one of the likes of Tom Brady with his ambitious mentality.

 

With the Boston Strong beep baseball team being an all-age inclusive team, five minors share the field with him. As he attempts to carry himself through all facets of life, Kamara is hopeful to spread wisdom and inspiration to younger players.

 

“I view myself as a role model more than anything, whether educational-wise or career-wise,” Kamara said.  For anyone who has an impairment and then thinks that they cannot do something, they hear for me and I tell them my age and they can be motivated.”

 

Gborgar echoed this thought.

 

“He makes people see why they need to live,” she said. “Give other people hope that if he can make it, another person can make it. He's always had the positive side of looking at life, no matter how negative things appear.”

 

Quintanilla noted his dedication to practicing, often taking a bat home to work on his swing. The team won its first win in the program’s history, but Kamara has his eyes set on larger goals.

 

“Now that we won our first game, it gives me motivation to do more,” he said. “I want to be able to say I played in the World Series.”

 

Whether it is academia, athletics, or being a vibrant community member, Kamara always strives to do more and will now use his degree to continue providing a positive impact on others.

 

“The first thing I will tell anybody who encounters a disability of any kind is to keep courage,” he said. To never give up. There will always be brighter days.”