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Disability
is not Inability |
::Though deaf-blind, they are determined to beat all
odds
By Samuel Otieno
IT’S five in the morning. Hussein Mohammed stirs up with
a tried yawn and stretches his hands-bracing himself for a tough
day ahead. Today, he will wade through the thick vegetation infested
with crabs to reach his canoe that is anchored at the shores of
the Indian Ocean.
Because the tide has gone down, he will be forced to walk through
the deep mud with the aid of stick on one hand and an oar on the
other. His mission is to collect firewood on the other side of
the ocean. All these for one reason: To help her daughter Memejuma
Mohamed, achieve her dreams of becoming a teacher. Born 28 years
ago to a Kwale family, Memejuma is deaf-blind, which means she
cannot hear or see properly. But this complication does not deter
from achieving her dream. Already Memejuma has successfully completed
her four-year secondary education and graduated in dressmaking,
agriculture, cookery and Knitting. With an aid of an interpreter,
Memejuma says she has one big dream to fulfit: “l want to
be a teacher at my former school to enable me teach other deaf-blind
children to knit pullovers and dressmaking.”
Mohammed is among 13 other parents in Coast Province who have
come together to help their children. The Kwale Deaf-blind Parents
Association main mission is to draw all deaf-blind children in
the area to enable them benefit from the boat project. The boat
project, started last year, supports 10 deaf-blind children pursue
education. Mohamed is in charge of the boat and uses it to ferry
firewood, which is sold at Sh10 for a bundle of four sticks. He
has a hard task climbing up and down the over 100 meters hill
carrying the firewood. He will pile them unit they make a bundle
that can be sold at Sh100.
“We have to pay Sh1000 towards school fees from the money
we get from the sale of the firewood,” says Mohamed. But
the group’s major task is the establishment of a centre
where school-leavers can enhance their skills. “We will
be able to create employment for our children where they will
use their skill to make sweaters for sale,” says Mrs Sarah
Omudi. Omudi’s daughter, Shifrah Kageha, 20, has successfully
completed her training in knitting, dressmaking, agriculture and
cookery. Despite being deaf-blind, Shifrah xcan knit pullovers,
cook and braid other people’s hair by herself.
Last November, Shifrah successfully completed her four-year training
at St Angela\s Mumias Secondary Vocational School for Deaf Girls.
“Ever since my daughter completed her training, she has
always pestered me to get her a job,” say Omudi. She adds,
“Shifrah is a very stubborn girl. Teacher at her former
school told her that after completing school’ she would
be able to get a job. Since then we have been having sleepless
nights”. Specialists at her to explore her world. Everyday
happy and confident Shifrah displays her certificates on her bed,
as she demands for a job. She displays neatly knitted pullovers
on her bed too just to put her point across that she can make
it by herself. Her mother now looks foreword to her future development.
The parents are optimistic that the centre will kick off in time
when their children complete their training. Tink Adam Ali Jimbo
is completely deaf-blind and one hardly notices that he is already
17 years old. “He was tiny when he was born and developed
slowly. We were devastated to learn that he was born deaf-blind.
We shared to despair and saw little hope in him,” says Hamisi
Mmbwana, Jimbo’s father. Hamisi is now a happy man after
the project ensured that his son enrolled at the local Kwale School
for the deaf. Proceeds from the project has enabled him pay the
Sh100 fees required and also buy him necessary basic needs such
as clothes, soap, shoes and many others. He is hopeful that his
son will be able to acquire skills that will enable him earn a
living for himself in the future.
Veronica Nzilani, chairperson of the association was desperate
for support in coping with her son’s unique needs. Her 14-year-old
son Kimuu Ndiku has already enrolled at the Kwale School for the
Deaf, courtesy of funds from the boat project. Ndiku’s progress
is astonishing. The parents hope to equip the centre with necessary
learning facilities. The centre, once equipped, is expected to
empower learners to work and earn living just like any normal
person. Encouraged, parents of the Kwale Deafblind Association
have already started lobbying the government to establish more
specialist units, giving deaf-blind children the basic education
they are routinely denied. “We appeal to the Government
to set up special schools for the deaf-blind children,”
says Veronica.
Many dead-blind children in Coast Province have been able to
pursue education, hence becoming productive. In the past, such
children were often seen as a burden to their families unit an
International non-governmental organization stepped in to address
this problem. Sense International aims to give deaf-blind children
the support and love they need to live a full and happy life.
The organization’s East African branch has facilitated referrals
to hospitals and schools, giving many deaf-blind children their
first access to professional support.
It has also enabled many parents to share their experiences and
receive training in a range of skills. “In East Africa,
we are working with nine partner organizations in developing strong
relationships with many others,” say Geoffrey Atieli, Director
Sense International East Africa. This year, the organization gave
the association Sh35,000 to purchase the canoe. It is also credited
for identifying parents from various parts of Coast province and
bringing them together as an association. What we are now looking
for is parents with deaf-blind children to bring them foreword
and enable them get the necessary assistance,” says Atieli.
Atieli regrets that most deaf0blind children are never exposed
to normal people.
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