Recent good news from our Arua vocational training partnerships

Our deaf friend Aisha, above,  has graduated from a more advanced tailoring school. This is a real tribute to her growing confidence, YWAM staff who ran the school and her fellow students for whom this was their first experience of training/learning with a deaf person.

 

 We’ve also just heard from Moses, above right, a carpentry instuctor at West Nile, that five of the six deaf students (also shown) have just graduated from their building and carpentry courses. One passed with credit - the first deaf student to do so since the project started in 2010.

Deaf/ Hearing Go- Camp Team and Staff

 Helen: Coordinating ‘Go Camp’ was my biggest recent challenge but I loved it. Eight deaf and eight hearing student had a rich cultural experience learning more about faith as they lived together in community for 3 wks. Two students Moses and Netty  both made light of their big mobility challenges. Laurence did exceptionally well as the only ‘muzungu’ white and youngest participant. I was so pleased he got to see and work with the people in Labone S Sudan.  Adam took half the students, including Netty to Yivu in Maracha district. Walt co-led the remainder of the students, including Laurence , based at YWAM Labone in S Sudan.

Adam: Whilst we were in England a deaf/hearing Arua team ran a successful Home Sign workshop. This increases my hope in the possibility of delegating more responsibility to local interdependency advocates in the future.  The last slide shows a review of our activities over the past three years. Training future instructors  and deaf graduates n vocational subjects continues. Sign workshop venues have now moved from the community to the homes of the  deaf youth. Sign resources for new sign topics  are now being trialled in video rather than photo format to increase user’s sign accuracy. Deaf/hearing discipleship and bible dramas continue. Sign language workshops for improvers to develop as future interpreters are now running    

Deaf-hearing Go Camp Outreach to Labone, S. Sudan

Walt: A programme of singing, dancing, puppets and a sermon was made in the market square and enjoyed by everyone. The village elder was very impressed and the children all got sweets at the end. We also had fun making mud bricks for two churches. Deaf student Kennedy was a star worker. He ran all the time. That day we made over 900 bricks! We were glad to refresh ourselves with a swim afterwards. Other activities were classes in signing lead by deaf building instructor Temia who was a natural and loved doing it. Her deaf husband Raphael helped.

   While we were there, we had our challenges. Mine was sleepless nights because of frequent unknown bangings on the roof in the dead of night! I never found out what they were.   We did have a great time though. We met up with the pastors who we met last year. We did door to door work with them. Once, we split up and went from hut to hut saying who we were and praying for the villagers. I was surprised how welcoming they were. Not like in England, where you would be looked on with suspicion.

Deaf Youth Camp Lira...

Deaf Youth Camp Lira..  ..atendance by three deaf youth, Godfrey, Sam and Doreen from St. Phillip’s Special Needs fellowship, was supported by YWAMDCM (YWAM Arua Deaf Connections Ministry) in August. Shared payment of the camp costs was expected on an ability to pay basis with each youth contributing accordingly.

   Deaf carpenter Sam, who has enjoyed two years full-time employment at an Arua town carpentry business we introduced him to, wrote this letter for us to share with you.

Ugandan National Deaf Awareness Day, Nebbi..

‘Partnering through ICT and Sign Language Is Our Priority’

..attendance by eight invited deaf, each joined by a hearing family member/ teacher / employer, was supported by YWAMDCM in September. This was a new approach that emphasised the deaf-hearing interdependency (partnership) spirit of YDCM.

   Its objective was partially achieved in that five hearing partners were present in the group of twenty eight at the event, three for the first time.

   We had hoped that the deaf driver we had enabled to pass would co-drive the hire vehicle for our invitees with his hearing driver instructor partner Bernard. Unfortunately increased vehicle charges and other complications prevented this happening and public transport had to be used.

   Joint deaf-hearing participation is still a new idea to many and more ground work is needed.    

Key findings from Educational tour of deaf units in South Uganda

By two local teachers of the Deaf, Jonahansi (022), and Fetaa (027), (pictured), were:


“the generally poor performance of severely and profoundly deaf, with only hard of hearing fairing better….

… that in games and sports

the deaf compete equally with hearing under the same rules..

… that deaf are being trained in vocational skills including salon works, baking, knitting, tailoring garden work and carpentry.

… that a few hearing staff learn USL due to the lack of trained teachers of the deaf..

Recommendations made and challenges seen are shown right and are shaping our 2011-14 development plans, with a new focus on deaf literacy.

Arua deaf use their acting and IT skills to produce a a new USL resource.

The video-drama of the story of the birth of John the Baptist was originally performed by Arua deaf to sensitize members in Vurra sub-county to the needs and abilities of those with disabilties. Raphael,(centre), worked alongside me to learn the basics of video-editing/subtitling so we could later use the video in the joint hearing-deaf Christmas Service. It was well received.

Former deaf DTS student, Sam, gains employment as carpenter

We recommended Sam,(4th from left above), because his honest, thorough and hardworking character has impressed many.


He is pictured alongside Samuel, (3rd from left above), owner of the carpentry business and a fellow deaf connections partner

Mixed hearing-deaf holiday club, King’s Kids, builds scriptural understanding, friendship & leads to deaf education partnership.

Kings kids 17th– 21Jan 2011 Psalm34:8 ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good’


It was an absolute blessing to coordinate this new venture in Arua with a strong core of 4 staff and an additional 6 support staff 3 of whom were deaf. The enterprising support was just right.

In total we had 26 kids and 5 of them were deaf or hard of hearing. The aim of the week was to explore what it really means to be a Christian by doing lots of practical team building activities including our own special pilgrimage hike. Netty Hayes of All Saints Infant School Bedworth blessed events not only with her tremendous administrative support but with the wonderful parachute games which became a daily highlight. “What’s next?” Was the final request of kids/parents alike

At the end of the week we donated the parachute to the Eruba School Deaf Unit.


The Headteacher Sebastian was thrilled.

Hearing & deaf students graduate, thank you & plan

The deaf DTS students are circled in white, with the letter of appreciation shown written by Sam in the centre. The hearing advocates are circled in dark blue, were a great support

Signs and Wonders from the mixed hearing / deaf DTS team in Gulu town, N. Uganda

Learning from/working with Gulu’s needy townsfolk...

Whilst deaf DTS students like Gatrude (circled), encouraged local deaf students preparing for exams, other students were challenged to respond to several isolated people.

William, my Sudanese outreach co-leader explains:

Lazarus, left, is aged about 48. His relatives rejected him but he has managed to get to the Year 6 standard in primary school and can speak English well. He is about 1m tall and moves by tilting his head back and wriggling his back.

This he has done having been born severely lame with unnaturally short legs and arms. His head is unnaturally large. We showed him the love of Christ by washing him, his clothes, cleaning out his hut and buying him food and a blanket. This is a great testimony in my life.

One woman, a former Lord’s Resistance Army abductee, got healed from back pain after we prayed for her. She has suffered ever since she was beaten whilst in the LRA.

Arua Mayor’s inclusive Fun-run brings fresh perceptions and ideas to Arua Town’s community

Local deaf /deaf advocates joined YWAM staff/students, local runners, many other development workers and council staff in Arua Mayor’s 1st Fun-run recently. They made up about 25% of the 40 + participants.

Mayor, Charles Asiki, warmly welcomed them. Partially deaf-blind pastor Alan Aviah also took part.

The local deaf /deaf advocates fitness impressed many, all finishing in the top half. Deaf DTS student, Sam (021) finished third, Jerome 4th.

Development plan for 2011-2014

THE NEED:
Families/communities with deaf members need tools to relate, manage resources, innovate, earn, and serve others

OUR VISION:
To bring isolated deaf people to see themselves as God's workmanship, beloved children & co-workers (Ephesians 2:10, John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 6:1)

OUR MISSION:
To develop solid, long-term partnerships to provide:

• Sign-language, literacy, relationship building and life- skill resources


• Opportunities for vocational/leadership training & income generation.

OUR GOAL:
Twelve deaf leaders, formerly isolated, who:

• know God blesses them so they can be a blessing to others


• have a safe/healthy lifestyle, good people skills and future leaders they are mentoringare managing resources well, being innovative and prosperous


• have developed partnerships that have transformed the hearts and lives of others

At the Refinery -What’s challenging me -Finding the balance (Helen)

To put God first. You might think that being involved with missions that I always put God first. Well in reality I still mostly go my own way and God becomes an addition to my routine rather than the driver. My aim is to really know god more and be a better kid; ok old kid.

Secondly I want to be an honourable Mum, wife and teacher. It’s not on the school curriculum as such but basic bibilical understanding is what I think the boys need more of and they agree. ‘Teach a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it.’ Says a well known proverb. ‘parents do not exasperate your children’ says Proverbs. I desperately want to inspire Laurence and Jerome as I teach them and I want to honour Nicholas Chamberlain Technology College through making best use of the resources they have kindly given us.

As a long distance mum I am encouraged that with prayer and petition i/we can improve our relationship with Maria and encourage her to reach her God given potential. I know she deserves all the encouragement she can get. We learnt a lot whilst home schooling Maria but this year not only does Maria have year 2 of her A’s but some resitsto raise the level of her grades from last year. I am just so grateful that Maria has compassionate, gifted teachers that are guiding her through. Thank you NCTC staff so much if you read this.

Thirdly the wife bit. Well perhaps this should come second. I wouldn’t be here being blessed in this deaf ministry if it were it not for Adam and his hearing loss. My call I believe is to be scaffolding. Its not very glamorous I know but actually the more I accept the role the more enjoyment I get from supporting Adam in this very special ministry.

The deaf love Adam and I know he is doing a great work and he and the deaf need a lot of practical and emotional support which I feel I am learning to give. The more I give the more I receive. I know it’s an old cliché but it’s true. As scripture says it’s better to give than to receive.

It seemed like a timely connection when a deaf tailor met up with a business woman, Irene, at a business convention in Arua. Irene agreed to take on the deaf tailor for a trial period. However, after less than a fortnight, I had the unpleasant job of signing to the deaf youth that she would not be continuing in the newly offered job.

The deaf youth struggled in a number of ways, with punctuality; she even missed some days completely and her standard of work was below what was needed. Whilst I gave some initial sign support to this deaf youth and her family it quickly became apparent that the youth was in the wrong work place. Her employer Irene recognised that she needed to think more carefully about the implications of appointing someone with a disability.

At the end of the meeting Irene explained she was exploring the possibility of running a government sponsored vocational training course for people with disabilities. This was really encouraging because the forms were very detailed and required the submission of details for special needs provision and sign language interpretation.

All in all I believe this was a good but painful learning experience for us all. I will continue to follow up and encourage Agnes. Irene has asked her to continue to pop in to the tailoring business so that she can observe the other tailors and learn from them. H.

AlioceUSL Buddy Workshops: Further feedback and Outreach to new locations

Local partners, AliocePastor –Rev Solomon, gave further useful written feedback recently.

He said: "The language barrier between deaf members and their relatives has been broken, and communication in the community has also got easier…..The topics were useful and the dramas helped everyone memorise the new signs being learnt and some key biblical events.

"The myth that deafness is inability is dissolving. More deaf are now attending their local church because their services have become more accessible.”

At the beginning of July and August we provided transport for over 20 local people with disabilities, deaf, polio and blind to go to the outlying villages of Kova and then Ezuku.

The aim is to encourage their communities to see the gifts and potential of the physically challenged members and their families.We used sign-song, drama (above) and testimony. The villagers were really appreciative.

Promoting Deaf Access to Healthcare and Competitive School Sport

I recently took a couple of deaf students for malaria and typhoid tests at a clinic we trust.

The students shared the tribal remedies they have used in the past. Local nurses said that whilst research shows some remedies are effective, the lack of hygiene when they are applied often causes other infections.

Developing medical sign vocabulary moved a step closer when we recently met qualified and student nurses. They asked us for some deaf awareness training and some medical signs to aid initial assessment. We hope to co-develop these with local deaf people familiar with this area of vocabulary.

I made several visitsto Eruba Primary School this month to try and ensure that their deaf students be allowed by regional educational officials to be part of their school teams. There is no alternative event for these 45 deaf to compete in. Most regularly & happily play with/against their hearing counterparts, at a comparable standard.

Teaching staff have said that match officials and hearing players need sports sign language vocab. to change attitudes towards the involvement of deaf children in competitive sport. Co-developers are being sought. Ad

Job Offer for Agnes, an unemployed deaf tailoress!

Graham Dunn, brother of Helen, also has a heart for Uganda –focussing on challenging their business community to gain the trust of investors by operating their businesses more on biblical principles, and to compete on quality.

Whilst staying with us in Arua, Graham asked us to invite some deaf we thought would benefit from his two day seminar. Janet, bottom right photo, 2ndfrom left and Agnes, far right were invited because they both have vocational skills. Helen provided communication support.

During the seminar, local business woman, Eileen, bottom right, took up his invitation to consider employing deaf who have the skills they need. At Eileen and Agnes’ request we have provided some sign-language sheets to accelerate communication between them.

Signs and wonders: new needs highlighted

This month’s work with Arua’s deaf community has highlighted two needs.

First to encourage their hearing relatives to partner those we support too, even if only the distant relatives are supportive. We are making a renewed effort to do this. It is definitely raising the deaf students’ performance, and the relative’s expectations of them.

Secondly, we are seeing the need to seek ways to raise the literacy levels of unemployed deaf youth. This is proving crucial to them gaining/holding onto training and jobs.

Celebration at the end of the Alioce workshops

Local partners, AliocePastor –Rev Solomon, Arua Association of the Deaf chairman -Godfrey Aguta, St Phillip’s Deaf church pastor –Allan Aviah, Peace Café IT manager -Bosco, and Head of ErubaDeaf Unit, Feta were involved throughout.

Illustrated USL booklets and a wall-board display were presented to the Alioce deaf and their community.

Thanks were expressed by all present to our UK partners too..

Positive Impact of AlioceUSL Buddy Workshops

The hearing buddies (parents) of the village deaf thanked the team for the improved relationship they are having with their deaf children – in terms of communication and behaviour.

"My son can now tell me he is hungry!” "My son is calmer now and stays around instead of disappearing all day."

A polio mute(L) and a deafblind(R) also loved hearing kids relate to them in a deeper way.