Sign Workshop at Offaka Rural Village 30miles outside Arua town

This workshop was possible thanks to many people. Co-founder of Arua YWAM base, Sam Abuku took me to meet the Arua Association of the Deaf office run by two deaf male adult volunteers, Asega and Mauster, who are regional and local chairman respectively. They try to provide communication support, advocacy, sign-language tuition and advice for deaf youth and adults.

The deaf youth soon turned up and we exchanges laughter as I pressed on with my broken ugandan sign-language and they saw my British sign-language equivalent signs when I had to resort to it!

Asega promptly agreed to set up a half-day session in a rural village known to have above average deafness. Two deaf youth accompanied us as positive role models and to be given the opportunity to share the sign they had acquired, delivering one topic each really well.

We were warmly recieved by the village dignitaries before gathering under a big fruit tree. This time the group of 22 included 9 deaf men and 5 deaf women and one deaf girl in her mid -teens that despite her claimed mental difficulties I said should be included. She managed really well!

There was much fun, laughter and mutual support. Hearty thanks and a written request for a deaf school, deaf teachers, sign manuals camera and motorbike followed the long morning.

A fruitful morning, valuable insights and much food for thought for future rural workshops and a sustainable strategy..

Cheers. Adam

Sign Workshop at Yeppi Village on outskirts of Arua town

Would the sign-language interpreter and the deaf-partially blind pastor come with me?
Were there as many deaf as we had been led to believe?
Would a parent or carer turn up too as hoped?
Would both children and adults be receptive to some sign workshops?
Would the money asked requested for light refreshments be spent as promised?

Well, YES! was the answer for the most part. Six parent/relatives each turned up to the initial meeting with one deaf child, ranging in ages from 3 to about 13. The lack of a local deaf school, the well-above average prescence of deafness and an inabilty to afford the school fees meant four of the six deaf children there had not coped in a hearing school and stayed at home. They were unable to cope in a hearing school. One deaf child had to drop out of the deaf school as the parents could no longer afford the school fees and the other struggles on in a hearing school with parial deafness. The parents were enthusiastic and agreed to attend with their child. First two workshops were to be 4pm midweek and latter two on the following Sat. and Sun. afternoon.

Only two deaf children and one mother made the first midweek session but we were not discouraged as we knew mid week would be difficult for many carers to get there. It was great to see the eyes of the deaf children brighten as they grasped new concepts such as colours and family signs, and the parents saw how much clearer they would be able to communicate with their child. Subsistence living was evident so my provision of tea and bread in a humid 30degs C was welcomed by us all.

Update and Pictures to follow when technology allows.

Adam

Arua: Developing existing and new contacts with deaf people

Yesterday/s coach journey from Kampala to Arua, was 8hrs at break-neck speed! It skirted the Nile frequently. The conductor invited a passenger to pray before we left Kampala. I responded!.






At the base it was good to see familiar faces and meet some new ones. Bosco's family, Benedictine and Benjamin, Paul.

Several more houses have been built or under construction. our accomodation could be in one like that pictured.

Today base co-founder Sam Abuku kindly ferried me to visit:
regional and local deaf association chairs, Asega and Mauster, both deaf. They knew two rural areas. Offaka and Okallo with numerous deaf that would appreciate a sign workshop.

• member of deaf church - gave me service venue and time.




• woman at book shop with deaf around her village, (Yeppi)




• deaf school - lots of change Isaac and Salome both moved on! and new head left too!.

Have arranged further meetings with each of these, including two village visits and deaf service this sun pm.

Kampala.! Visiting schools, Uganda's National Deaf Association and vocational training for the deaf. Bond Style

Internet connection here very slow. Temp here a very humid 25 degs. Boda bodas (motorbike taxis) ok apart from a couple of hairy moments when my rider narrowly squeezed through tiny gaps! Just like a bond stunt! Kampala is quite hilly.

















Managed to visit the Kampala Deaf school (KDS) and gather some useful info . Bosco's local knowledge invaluable. The KDS is the largest in Uganda and houses 200 pupils who all board. There were about 20 deaf-blind too.

KDS offer some lifeskills such as carpentry, sewing, rain-harvesting and keep 5 cows to teach animal care and milking skills. A group of kenyan deaf arrived just as we were leaving. They had one deaf from Arua. Theyre now starting to fund-raise for a vocational school. have exchanged contact details. They are also trying to do outreach work to identify deaf at an earlier age. They thought our approach for Arua would help a lot. Met deaf man on dala dala (mini-bus taxi). No guinness record attempts seen yet for overfilling!

At the Ugandan Assoc. for the deaf (UNAD), I discovered they had replied that one of their board members is Uganda's only deaf MP! UNAD also had info on West Nile's Deaf Assocn and the efforts being made there. Discovered there will be a gathering of Deaf from all over the world(World Federation of the Deaf conference) in Kampala next September! Hope to attend. Will probably only happen once in Uganda in our lifetime! Also given Arua Deaf Assocn contact at Arua Council which I'll follow up.



Useful visit to one of only four deaf vocational training centre for deaf teens in Uganda. Right next to our B+B! They offer carpentry, mechanics, catering and tailoring. They sell some of their furniture in the city on a saturday.

Won't visit friend with contact at Mityana Deaf school as she's ill. Info. promised.

B&B food fairly english. Local diet starts in earnest tomorrow!

Uganda planning trip starts Nov. 16th

Aims:

Better understanding of:

• existing provision for the deaf by visiting existing Deaf school/Projects in Kampala, Mityana.
  
• Arua base priorities, staff roles, base calendar and allocation of our time , for 2009-2011.
  
• number/distribution of isolated deaf people in Arua town, Arua District through visits to Arua town council/NGOs/previous contacts.
  

Develop:

• understanding of our domestic and home-schooling needs and see what provision will be in place for late Aug./Sept.09
• previous contacts at Arua Deaf school on developments, to share our vision to reach isolated deaf people and to gauge their interest in partnering with us.
• a workshop with local partners in a village with isolated deaf children and adults to run for a couple of hours a day over a week.

Uganda - Profile*

The People
Population Size / Density:
2000 21.8million 90 per sq.km
2010 29.8million 124 per sq.km
2025 44.4million 184 per sq.km

N.B. No-one knows the numbers who perished during Amin’s dictatorship and the subsequent civil wars, famines and tribal killings, but estimates vary from 800 000 to 2million. The impact of AIDS has been devastating and slowed population growth.

People Groups:
160+ indigenous ethnic groups Bantu groups: 92.4%

Refugees:
Mainly Burundi, Ruwundi Hutu.
Also Somalis, Congolese

Capital: Kampala (1.2million) Other major cities: Entebbe (50,000)
Urbanites: 13%

Languages
Literacy: 62% Official language: English Other languages: 46

The Economy
Mainly agricultural, subsistence farming.
Three annual growing seasons.
Main export crop is coffee.

The healthy economy of the 1960’s was damaged by the expulsion of the Asian business community in 1972, then
virtually destroyed by tyranny and wars.

There has been a slow, but steady improvement since 1992, but continued warfare in the North and West and the ravages of AIDS and disease keep the majority of the population in deep poverty.

Health Development Index (H.D.I.)
0.404 - a ranking of 158th out of 174

Public debt: 48% of GNP

Average Annual Income: $330 per person – 1% of USA figure

* Source: Operation World

Great news - work for Adam next term

We're delighted that Adam has landed some maths teaching work next term. This will provide some much-needed income in the run-up to Uganda.

It's at a school in Coventry whose ethos has lots in common with our approach to thngs. There's also a good chance of getting the pupils involved in some signing too.