Increased sign fluency, literacy/numeracy levels

Increased sign fluency, literacy/numeracy levelsare now a strong shared priority amongst many of our local partners. Following lengthy consultations and trials we have drafted the six-step plan overleaf with the above partners. Steps two and three of the plan overleaf are shown above too.  We are increasingly convinced that this plan can benefit both deaf and  hearing students,  teachers  & family members  more than any of our other partnerships so far- both individually & collectively.

How we hope to unite deaf and hearing members at Eruba Primary School

Inclusion for the deaf and blind in Nuneaton and Coventry..

Laurence and I recently joined one Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council debate on whether UK government support for developing nations should be continued and if so how. I was able to share recent experience from Uganda which was appreciated. The council chamber itself was really accessible for the partially deaf and blind because of the seating layout, individual microphones and induction loop.
   Then Martin from our church missions team asked me to speak to the monthly blind fellowship he co-leads on the challenges and opportunities deaf people face in Arua. The blind groups questions showed they face quite a similar situation with self-help and support groups playing a vital role. It was weird speaking to people who couldn’t see me.  Thank you Vicky Fowler, NBBC and Martin for these insights

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 build head teachers house

At least 5 deaf builders, 3 deaf labourers,  1 deaf cook and three hearing builders are involved. They have  impressed passers by and deaf and hearing Eruba school members  with their team spirit and hard work.
   This project to provide adequate accommodation for the head teacher was selected because of our strong partnership with Eruba. It was possible  because of the building materials collected by the last head teacher, Sebastian,  and the generosity of friends and family of our former British sign-language  teacher, Christine Reeves, who in the latter stages of her battle against leukaemia, asked  for donations at her thanksgiving service to be dedicated to an educational aspect of our work. Additional support is enabling the roof and apron to be completed in the next fortnight.
     Working relationships between the deaf and hearing are good so far. Two deaf labourers, one deaf cook and their families have agreed that their earnings can go towards their school fees next term. They have been out of school for at least a year. The deaf builders also taught sign language to the deaf labourers because they need it to progress.

Joint Deaf Services & Fellowship and Deaf education support

Deaf Youth and children from St. Phillip’s and Eruba Primary deaf Unit have now enjoyed two of these joint events. Each time the service has been followed by food and sport or a film.

As I umpired the netball it was great to see the healthy competitive spirit of the older deaf come out. They loved it.

These shared events have been super and are great for developing community spirit amongst both the deaf and hearing.

We have recently provided educational support for three isolated deaf children, two of them at Eruba – Ivan and Samuel. In both these cases the local church of the child has also given a termly contribution to the fees because of the poverty of the parents. The third deaf child, Ronnie, circled, has intermittent hearing loss so has been re-located to a school with much smaller class sizes (25 rather than 80+) It is so encouraging to see how quickly they have settled and are picking up sign-language.