May-August 2011 Update A summary of the impact we have had and are now planning for.

Dear Friends and Partners,

Helen and I are grateful to the Lord and to all

who are making our shared vision become a reality.

Your essential support keeps us going, be it: prayer,

time and wisdom; finance; expertise or hospitality.

We are seeing increasing examples of deaf people

who are healthier, attending school or in paid work.

They are becoming positive role models in their deaf

and hearing community. No longer cursed and feeling

worthless they are accepted. Many for the first time

see themselves as God’s workmanship, beloved

children and co-workers.

Laurence and I plan to return August 24th, whilst

Helen plans to return late September once Maria and

Jerome are established.

Please keep on journeying with us.

Yours sincerely

Adam & Helen

 Deaf Connections Impact Summary, 2009-11

Deaf educational & vocational training implemented with your support

Program Progress, Next steps

Sign- language resources and workshops

Local deaf have gained IT skills and co-produced an illustrated sign-language vocabulary booklet with us, covering everyday topics. The Ugandan National Deaf Association has copied this for use across Uganda. Fluent signers now need to be trained to produce specialist sign-language resources for other topics e.g. health/police issues.

Twelve additional deaf youth are now teaching sign vocabulary more systematically and effectively at regular community sign-language workshops which have benefitted 300+ participants to date. Relatives attending these workshops with their deaf children have testified to improved communication, behaviour, mood, appetite and relationships.

Can you help us fund these. The need is widespread.

Education support

Three isolated deaf village children attending our workshops are now having their school fees subsidised, so they can attend a deaf-friendly unit.

Building

One determined deaf woman has become the first ever building course student to graduate from a large vocational training school in Arua. She is now paid as an Assistant Instructor and has enabled four new deaf students to enrol.

Can you help us provide deaf access to other courses .

Driving

One eager deaf Muslim young man has been sponsored to complete a driver course because one local employer will consider a qualified deaf applicant. Test date awaited .

Sport

Further signed coaching of basic volleyball and football skills and sign-language workshops covering sports vocabulary are now needed to overcome social and communication barriers to the inclusion of deaf boys and girls in competitive school sport.

 

Supporting Arua’s Pastor for Special Needs discipleship of deaf Christians

Discovery group

This has operated on a weekly basis for the last six months

All members are getting to know each other better with our support

Bible drama team

A committed group of local deaf Christians and Muslims now regularly dramatise bible stories that are accurate and well-presented, and equally enjoyed by hearing and deaf members of congregations. The drama and signed song groups are invited by pastors to co-lead services designed to demonstrate the positive contribution people with disabilities can make in communities where disability is seen as a curse.

Your support provides transport and coaching for this team. Requests for sign language workshops from these communities frequently follow the team’s visit.

Two deaf can now subtitle drama and signed-song videos to help deaf learn vocabulary.

Teaching videos need to be developed for more bible topics and songs

Discipleship

Four deaf and two hearing deaf advocates successfully completed YWAM Arua’s six month residential Discipleship Training School (DTS) They have really grown in integrity, self-confidence, social skills, time- and money –management skills etc. They have a passion to know God more and to serve those in need.

Three of these have since gained employment/further training because they impressed their employer/principal when offered trial placements. Deaf Connections contributed 50% of the DTS fees and hopes to sponsor further students similarly.

Outreach team

School and youth deaf fellowships recently accepted the challenge to host each other in turn, lead the service, then providing food,entertainment. Each fellowship volunteers at the community sign-language workshops. Joint deaf-hearing services are a future goal.