First Deaf/Hearing Weaving/Tailoring Course Graduation...

..also took place on May 2nd We celebrated  the  pleasing marketable products our team of students right learnt to make. In addition to learning to make everyday clothing they also made overalls for the deaf building & carpentry students we support(PTO) . 

The deaf unit teacher, Feti Stephen,  overseeing the day to day running of the project, the assistant instructors and a pair of professional consultants all contributed to this promising project which is intended to be increasingly self-sustaining with each successive course. High team integrity and cooperation has been key. We plan to accept a fresh intake in late June.

Trial Vocational Training Course in Tailoring/Knitting

  

New Illustrated signs produced for Carpentry

Our partnership with West Nile Ecumenical Vocational Training Centre (WNEVTC) continues. One new partially deaf building student, Kennedy, has enrolled. We have just recruited Moses, a hearing  carpentry instructor with sign-language skills, whose mobility challenges have strengthened his determination to achieve and serve.

 Our sign-language resource development team has  developed what appears to be Uganda’s first illustrated carpentry signs. This has allowed one of last year’s deaf building graduates, Wilfred, to join WNEVTC’s carpentry course for the first time.

    

We also ran a half day sign workshop for all WNEVTC  new student intake, are setting up sign-language displays and alongside deaf instructor, Temia, we continue to provide communication support and optional sign-language teaching in other useful topics at their student fellowship once a week. We have provided sports equipment and some sports sign teaching too to help the deaf and hearing students relax and compete together. Thank you WNEVTC for your  continued willingness to train deaf and hearing students alongside one another.

Signs & Wonders – Six deaf in paid building work ...

… alongside their hearing colleagues is ongoing at a new building site at YWAM Arua since April, I was so delighted to see this .  Team adoption of interdependency was the the key. All are developing new skills and growing in their love and understanding of God. We have enjoyed watching each work to his/her potential capabilities alongside a hearing employee, on a separate task.. Bernard, their boss praises them and their teamwork mentality.

  

Temia, assistant building instructor‘ for  deaf students, was giving sign support at the construction site. She is highly regarded and she is thriving.  Back in 2009, on Bernard’s advice, and with our help, our partner vocational training school (WNEVTC)  was able to accommodate Temia, a speech impaired partially deaf woman at where she gained a credit in building. She’s now employed there.

 Deaf DTS graduate Philliam and Deaf Go-Camper Herbert were also on the construction assisting  two new deaf -building student, Kenny ,and labourer Edmond. Neither Kenny or Edmond had sign language skills 6 months ago but thanks to Bernard , Temia, Philiam & Herbert they are picking up. Edmond, hopes to have gained the communication skills to earn a place there next year. We think this is very likely and thank God for these developments. We’d love to share the video clips with you.

Five more families celebrate their deaf son/daughters’ vocational training achievements in building and driving …

… and would like to join us in recording our appreciation to all our partners including vocational training centre partner West Nile Ecumenical VTC for their continuing willingness to train deaf alongside their hearing students. 

We are working together to improve this opportunity even more next February by providing further communication support for all students and staff. We hope to offer new deaf students access to carpentry too. Access to the driving course will not be available because we cannot sustain the current additional costs  needed to test deaf student drivers. 

Deaf DTS graduate, Gatrude, gains training opportunity

Gatrude (circled) expressed an interest in working with deaf children whilst she was on her outreach phase of the DTS in Sudan. Then an opportunity arose for her to do some voluntary care work at the Eruba deaf Unit.

She raises the children for school each day, helps them to wash and gives them love and assistance as required. She is doing really well. Here, Gatrude) is standing with the new matron (in red) in a new dormitory funded by The Lions International..

Three new deaf and 13 hearing building students enrol for Feb.2010/11 course.

This was possible thanks to local deaf advocate West-Nile Ecumenical Vocational Training Centre’s appointment of Deaf  building course graduate Temia, above, as  an assistant building instructor.

Above and below, hearing students show the sign-names and everyday signs they cheerfully accepted from the new deaf students(circled) as term begins

Mission update Feb 2011

Milestones in December and January

Taste and see that the Lord is good’ Ps 34:8  

• Key findings from Educational tour of deaf units in South Uganda
• Arua deaf use their acting/IT skills to produce a new USL resource.
• Former Deaf DTS student Sam gains employment as a carpenter.
• Deaf driver training course pilot
• Innovative 2011 deaf church programme co-planned
• Mixed hearing-deaf holiday club builds scriptural understanding; friendship & leads to deaf education partnership.
• Village Outreach: Paranga, Maracha

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.

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

Deaf driver training course pilot

Recent national law changes have enabled deaf, such as trainee driver, Aziz, below , 2nd from right, to apply for a driving licence. We are working together with Aart, (right) coordinator of West Nile Vocational Training Institute, his hearing driving instructor Bernard (left) and a Deaf Association sign language instructor to see this new right for the eligible people with a disability become a widespread reality.


We must meet now await a meeting a senior Inspector Of Vehicles before he can be tested.

Educational tour of deaf units in South Uganda bring fresh ideas and inspiration to local deaf education

Two local teachers of the Deaf, Jonahansi (022), and Fetaa (027), (pictured), have just arrived back from their week-long informative tour.

Deaf Connection partners support helped make this tour possible. Both staff were really appreciative of this opportunity and asked us to pass on their gratitude to you. The next newsletter will explain some of their key findings.

They are pictured here, shortly after, at Arua Mayor Charles Asiki’s (002), first Fun Run.

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

Sept./Oct. 2010 Mission Update

Learning lessons. Looking forward

• Students continue to team-build and visit local people in need,right up to beginning of their 3 month field placement,
• Mixed hearing/deaf teams on YWAM ARUA’s Discipleship Training School have just left for needy areas of S. Sudan, Uganda, & Congo.
• Ugandan Sign Language teaching videos completed for Bible book names and for several new signed worship songs.
• Several base supporters have helped replace most of the stolen funds for extending sister base YWAM Yei’sschool buildings. Do continue to pray the thief/thieves come(s) forward.
• Signs and Wonders. At the Refinery
• Our youngest son Laurence returns

These Months’ Focus:
• Co-leading a DTS team to Laboni, S. Sudan (A)
• Jerome recovering from a fresh bout of Malaria
• Recommencing home-schooling (H & A)
• Finalising Outline Programme up until April 2011.

Students continued to team-build right up to beginning of their 3-month field placement

.. through team challenges such as an making an un-crushable paper structure using just 10 A4 sheets and paperclips.

They also continued to visit local people in need, such as TB patients to talk, pray with and bring food parcels as all patients are expected to provide their own food.

Prayer had a real sharpness and focus as at least one patient would die between one visit and the next.

August 2010 Mission Update

In full swing again!
• Settling back into Arua life ourselves.
• Staffing YWAM ARUA’s Discipleship Training School; 4 of 16 students are local deaf. (photos)

• Our base team experienced a major break-in and learnt some painful lessons from it.
• Job offer for Agnes, a skilled deaf lady.

• Review/draft preview of our programmes.
• Signs and Wonders
• Jerome returns with his friend, Mitch.

This Month’s Focus:
• Helping our base implement the lessons learnt from the major break-in. Please pray the money stolen (for extending sister base YWAM Yei’sschool buildings) & thief/thieves is/are found.
• Co-documenting and developing more biblical vocabulary in Ugandan Sign Language with Pastor Fred from Kampala Deaf Bible school
- Learning from each other’s deaf training programmes to further improve them.
• Clarifying our programme up until April 2011 when we return for the children’s next exams .

June/July 2010 Mission Update

An Eventful Couple of Months:
• Aliocesign-language workshops celebration.
• Review/draft preview of our programmes.
• Vuvuzelas: RNID calls for FIFA to provide free earplugs and monitor World Cup sound levels
• YWAM’s 50thBirthday celebrations.
• Briefly seeing UK friends and family. Others are visiting us.
• Recovering from a broken arm for Laurence and an amoeba for Adam .
• Partners support enabling us to book our 2010/11 return flights to Uganda
• Pastor Fred from Kampala Deaf Bible school has asked for my support to document biblical vocabulary in Ugandan Sign Language.

This Month’s Focus:
• Settling back in to base and Arualife ourselves
• Staffing YWAM ARUA’s DTS, our base’s Discipleship Training School. Four of the 16 students are local deaf.
• Clarifying our programme up until April 2011 when we return for the children’s next exams .

Review/draft preview of our various Deaf Connections programmes

THE NEED: Isolated deaf people in NW Uganda need tools to communicate, learn, earn and participate

OUR VISION: to bring isolated deaf people to see themselves as God's workmanship, beloved children and co-workers

OUR GOALS: Deaf people, formerly isolated who:·

• are safer, healthier, enjoy life more and achieve more.·
• participate more fully in their family and community·
• are able to spread hope themselves to others.

PROGRAMME: Sign-language workshops for 30+ isolated village deaf & a hearing relative/friend 20+hearing teachers/advocates of deaf/hearing students
Partners: St. Phillips Deaf ChurchArua District Deaf Association (ADAD) Eruba Primary School
Next steps: 5-day workshop for 25 deaf in Maracha

PROGRAMME: Development of 200 Illustrated Ugandan signsfor everyday use and specialist use, e.g.building vocabulary Donated Ugandan Sign-language books in daily use
Partners: Deaf adults(4) using new IT skills, Peace Internet Café, Arua Town Library
Next steps: Specialist signs for driving instructors /pupils, nurses, police, deaf bible students

PROGRAMME: Sports coaching and team-building sessions(10+) for 40 deaf and 40 hearing students at Eruba Primary
Partners: Eruba Primary, ADAD
Next steps: Competitive matches

PROGRAMME: Sourcing Vocational training opportunitiesfor deaf adults: Basic IT(4),building course(2) and driving course(1)
Partners: JBI Computers, Arua; West Nile Voc.Trg. Inst.
Next steps: Deaf driver training

PROGRAMME: Character building and Leadership training Using Biblical Drama Workshops
Partners: St. Phillips Deaf Church, ADAD, YWAM
Next steps: Ugandan Sign-song workshops

PROGRAMME: Documenting local deaf adults life stories/ hopes(x8)
Partners: ADAD
Next steps: To be continued

We hope you are encouraged. Prioritising our next steps is happening now...

Upside down: Third Alioce sign-language workshop

I worked with a lovely young boy who had walked 2 miles to the session and he was alone because his mum was nursing. He like so many was a quick learner.

Then I was interrupted by a rather anxious Revd. Solomon who thrust the hand of a profoundly deaf and blind timid boy into mine. His head was bowed and he clearly felt very awkward. His mother trailed behind. She also had a hesitant air about her.

Suddenly I was out of my depth. I could see no way forward on my own with this pair. In a panic I turned to Revd Allen for a solution. He was teaching a deaf adult but I interrupted and he just signed…slowly, slowly, slowly. I relayed the sign back and received a knowing smile and nod.

Half an hour later the boy was accepting hand contact to his palms, hands and face and then I glimpsed him doing the sign for fish. I am still amazed and encouraged by his progress and that mum was getting involved.

Our visits to Alioce(pronounced Alioche), are something that I half dread doing but afterwards feel a great sense of purpose in what I have done. Today was no exception. Maria joined us today. As the 30 local deaf arrived from all directions with a family member over the first hour, the signing deaf youth from St Phillips then paired off with them and started teaching them.

Two deaf youth have even asked for copies of the sign sheets to share with their families.

February 2010 update