Meet Rama Asmani

Rama Asmani was born in 1999 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War.

As violence spread across the region, his family of nine fled to neighboring Burundi in search of safety. Those early years of his childhood were shaped by survival, resilience and the deep believe that tomorrow could still be better than today.

At age 11, he lost his eyesight completely in 2010. For several years, Rama adapted to life with total blindness without access to proper medical care.

Everything changed in January 2013, when he and his family arrived in the United States and they were resettled right here in Lexington Kentucky.

Shortly after arriving, specialists at the University of Kentucky diagnosed him with phthisis bulbi, a rare and irreversible eye condition.

Coming to America opened doors that had once seemed impossible. With the support of teachers, counselors, and

the Lexington community, Rama returned to school and discovered that blindness was not the end and began

rebuilding his life.

He attended several Fayette county public high schools, the Kentucky school for the Blind in Louisville and ultimately graduated from Dunbar Class of 2017.

While he was pursuing higher education at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC), he learned that his

true passion was not just in classrooms, but in serving the community that embraced his family.

His experience from fleeing conflict to navigating life with a new disability has taught him the true value of resilience

and the importance of a welcoming community. That is why he began volunteering.

While at the McDowell center in 2019 for independent living training, he assisted at the Refugee Center in Louisville,

helping others start their new lives.

He served in smaller roles at local organizations like the Bluegrass Council of the Blind in 2017 and the National

Federation of the Blind Kentucky 2017-2020.

His story is about a journey from displacement to dignity, and it’s why I’m running for Mayor.

I want to ensure that every resident of Lexington, regardless of their background or challenge, has the same opportunity for a safe, stable,

and hopeful life that my family found here.