Aboard NDCS' Listening Bus Roadshow

One of National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS') objectives is to offer up-to-date information for deaf children and their family/ carer/friends. The NDCS Listening Bus tours Britain on anual basis, providing an opportunity for them to see demonstrations of communication equipment and other resources.

Deaf children and their families/carers can try out alternatives and so make more informed choices. The Listerning Bus Roadshow been making a a year long tour of Britain for about a decade.

I helped Roadshow Coordinator, Damian set up the bus recently in a highly multi-ethnic area of East London , answer the questions of deaf children, their families/carers and friends who visited.

NDCS was pleased to be able to offer far more comprehensive information in Punjabi, Urdu amongst othe languages on this visit. With such varied needs, questions and cultural backgrounds amongst the visitors I was impressed with the help the Listening Bus offers. I was intersted to learn of damian's previous work with the Deaf in South America too.

THANK YOU! Uganda Visit Summary Nov/Dec 2008: . Priorities for our future work with the isolated deaf in Arua District, N. Uganda .

This trip, and the meetings and community sign workshops it enabled, have only been possible thanks to a large number of people's support of time, hospitality, finance, encouragement, time and talent and prayer. Particular thanks to our UK supporters, YWAM Arua staff, Ugandan friends working on behalf of the deaf there.

All of the workshops and meetings involved travel and refreshment expenses which although low compared to the UK were far beyond the reach of the benificiaries here. I am grateful for God's protection during our travels here. Road travel is high risk whether you cycle or take a motor-bike or lorry taxi. Walking is not the safest option!

Following Adam’s recent stay back in N. Uganda, the workshops and discussions held there highlighted several priorities for our future work:

• Sourcing /developing a text-free Ugandan Sign-Language(USL) booklet with photographs of objects to accompany their equivalent sign.
  
• Provision of extra-curricular opportunities for deaf students at Eruba, e.g. training for and transport to sports fixtures/cultural exchanges with neighbouring schools.
  
• Acquisition of teaching aids, AV equipment and generator to deliver community based sign-language courses based on an existing curriculum.
  
• Identification of able and available USL interpreters/instructors to co-deliver these community based sign-language courses
• Provision of community based sign-language courses for isolated deaf, first on the outskirts of Arua town, then in more rural areas such as Offaka or Okallo. Opportunities for wider adoption of USL and social/cultural exchange within their communities through traditional dance, story-telling or sport would then be explored


• Exploration of possibilities for vocational training/income generation and social/cultural exchange for Arua town’s deaf youth for whom secondary education is unreachable/unaffordable.

Arua Deaf School Students sign beautiful song at Deaf-blind Priests Ordination

Thanks to our current supporters I was able to finance transport for Arua Deaf School Students to their Deaf-partially blind Pastor Alems ordination. Together with their head-teacher we took a lorry taxi, 60 miles away to the pastor's home town.

The ordination was memorable for all there because... :

• .. the deaf students got a rare trip away from school where they board in tough conditions



• .. the congregation of 1000 plus witnessed Church of Uganda's first ever ordination of a deaf-partially blind person, a preach given in sign by one of Uganda's few deaf pastors. It was translated into English and then the locallanguage phrase by phrase. Many were surprised!


• .. Ugandan sign-language was seen as a clear, beautiful and empowering communication tool


• .. many in the congregation come from districts where the prevalence of deafness is very high, sign-language unknown and integration and affirmation of deaf children very low.


• .. Eruba's deaf students signed song of praise to their Maker and signed message of thanks to songs turned widespead initial laughter into the most moving moments of the 4hour service.

I and local YWAMer, Benjamin, also spent time at the deaf school just relaxing and having fun with the students and staff. They loved "UNO", "Tip-it", and bench ball.

The finale to the afternoon was a demonstration by the deaf lads of their martial arts drills. extra cuuricular possibilities are sorely needed and sought. we want to help..

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.