 |
Disability
is not Inability |
:: A letter from Peter Wango To Dr. Ron
of GDC on issues arising..
Peter Wango Opany) is the Executive Director of KNAD.
Dr Ron of Global Deaf Connection based in Minnesota, a State
in the USA.
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THE DIRECTOR
GLOBAL DEAF CONNECTION
Dear Sir / Madam,
RE: OPERATIONS IN KENYA
Kenya National Association of the deaf, a non
governmental non profit making charitable organization that promotes
the welfare of the Deaf Citizens of Kenya, in all spheres affecting
their fundamental rights, do thank your organization for the important
role you are playing by supporting Deaf teachers who are undertaking
their teaching courses financially and materially as well as paying
salaries for 6 sign language interpreters in the college where
Deaf students are stationed. This is plaudible in the eyes of
the Government of Kenya, Parents of the Deaf and the Deaf Community
at large. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
Meanwhile you have relieved KNAD from the difficult
task of seeking funds to support the needy Deaf student teachers
from the enormous task of securing funds, which was difficult
at the beginning of 1996 when the first batch of Deaf teachers
were admitted into Machakos Teachers College. This was very difficult
to us but through hard work of sourcing out funds, we managed
to sponsor 6 deaf students to Machakos for the first time, then
you took over in the year of 1999 to date.
With you first paying the 3rd batch that went to Kamagambo Teachers
College a private institution for teachers, when the Ministry
of education cant allow those with D+ pass to join teaching profession,
until we advocated for lower grade for deaf to join teaching profession
which is now C- and above.
This has been an uphill task for KNAD before Global
Deaf Connection came into the field. However better we tried to
open up avenues for the Deaf to become teachers. We are saddened
to read in your website and Newsletters that Global Deaf Connection
was the first in the fight for placement of Deaf teachers into
Teaching Profession. This is blackmailing our efforts for good
gains where you have not sowed at first. KNAD sowed and Global
Deaf Connection watered the seeds to sprout. This is how we appreciate
it.
HISTORY AT GLANCE
To begin with I must explain the history of your
being connected with the service to the Deaf Community in Kenya.
Way back in 1997 Mr. Kevin Long approached me in my office in
KNAD after his contract of service in Kenya has come to an end.
He was very desperate and looking uncouth because he knew he is
leaving and chances of life in USA is very slim to him.
Kenya being a country where he enjoyed all the freedom and enjoyment
of life at his will touched his heart and he was looking for ways
and means to come back to start a project to assist the desperate
Deaf Kenyans whose culture he has cherished when he was teaching
at Nyagweso school for Deaf in Nyanza province.
He approached me with an idea of opening a hotel
in any part of Kenya where he can start hotel business to give
employment opportunities to Deaf Kenyans. After a lengthily discussion
with him I advised him that many Deaf Kenyans are not highly educated
and his business may end up in the hands of hearing persons with
deaf people as cleaners and kitchen hands. He agreed with my advice.
I advised him that inorder to be successful first of all the deaf
Kenyans must get higher education which can stand them in good
stead in future.
Hence I put into his mind the idea of raising funds in the USA
for deaf education in Kenya because many deaf Kenyans can’t
get funds to further their education. On that day the idea of
KENYA FOUNDATION FOR DEAF EDUCATION was born. Kevin requested
me for an official letter from KNAD introducing him as a fundraiser
in USA to support needy students who are unable to pay fees.
I wrote a nice introduction letter which he took with him when
his contract in Kenya is offer. Back in USA we continued to communicate.
Kevin informed me that the mission is successful but need visiting
cards introducing him as fundraiser for KNAD in USA I made two
rims for him which he took with him with a big smile not knowing
that the person whom I was helping will be our ripper in future.
When Kevin settled in USA with all the necessary
documents provided by KNAD he registered in USA, KENYA FOUNDATION
FOR DEAF EDUCATION which he informed me was in his home state.
He then informed me that fund raising is very good but he has
not stand stiff and convinced me to wait until he has strengthened
it. I waited till 2001 to my amazement he changed the name to
EAST AFRICAN DEAF CONNECTION due to lust for more money and a
big empire.
At this time I was not serving KNAD and he joined those who kicked
me out of KNAD which he later come to abandon for reasons not
known to me. But by this time he started to sponsor a few deaf
students undertaking teaching course at Kamagambo Teachers College.
His lust for more money and a greater empire did not abandon him
a few years later he changed EAST AFRICAN DEAF CONNECTION to GLOBAL
DEAF CONNECTION to smile on top of the world.
We Deaf Kenyans appreciate what Global Deaf Connection
is doing but infact it is in the country without approval from
the registrar of societies or NGO registration council recognition
as a legitimate organization authorized to do business in Kenya.
However through its partners such as Kenya National Association
of the Deaf Kenya Society for Deaf Children and others it is floating
because Kenya do not have strong laws to scrutinize illegal NGO’s
operating in the country.
Worse to it, its appointed director Mr. Joel Runnels
do not have an office where to operate the activities of Global
Deaf Connection. Neither a steering committee is in place since
its operations in Kenya. This is a breach of protocol and I do
not know that Mr Joel has a working permit in Kenya or a visitors
visa.
We deaf Kenyans in KNAD are weak financially but
active in the advocacy for the promotion of the rights of the
deaf that is why our neighbouring countries gained experience
from us. In addition we have deaf teachers teaching in schools
for the deaf and we have good networking with partners but others
seem to exploit us due to the fact that we do not have resources
at disposal to fight the vice. This is our enemy number one. I
therefore appeal to those who came through us to recognize us
with due respect instead of ripping from us and join other partners
labeling us as dormant.
Global Deaf Connection has been flopping from
one disability organizations to another as counterparts, first
with KNAD, then Kenya programmes for Disabled persons and lastly
we hear it is now with Kenya Society for the Deaf Children. I
am asking you as the person who introduced the initiative. Are
you serious in establishing Global Deaf Connection in Kenya or
doing Scottish dance in our eyes?
I am not critical to you but want an organization which was my
pipe dream well established in Kenya. Although personally I have
never tasted a penny in appreciation for my work but am proud
to see the education for my deaf brothers and sisters taken into
consideration. Otherwise there comes a time when I will be awarded
for the course.
Wishing Global Deaf Connection the best.
Peter W. Opany
Executive Director
KNAD
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