We have received sponsorship from Computers for Zambian Schools and Solon Foundation. This has enabled one government Special Education School to have a computer room with 14 computers.
The school has a Special Education computer teacher which now means children who are Deaf can receive computer lessons along with those who are visually impaired and children with learning difficulties. To teach 14 students in special education at any one time can be a serious challenge even for a skilled IT teacher.
Some of our members have received computer training; this will enable them to provide volunteers skilled in Sign Language and computer skills to assist in class. This will mean the Deaf will receive the computer lessons in Sign Language.
In October 2021 Sign Language Channel of Zambia was awarded a small grant by the U.S Embassy (PEPFAR). SLCZ organised and ran HIV awareness workshops for Deaf students in Lusaka schools. In preparation SLCZ created 8 HIV awareness videos in Sign Language. These were received so well, that the National HIV Council, Zambian Centre for Communication Programs, ZAPD and Ministry of Education requested copies of these videos. The workshop programme involved the videos, role play, games as well as question and answer sessions. All the workshops were presented in Zambian Sign Language. SLCZ ran a total of 14 workshops with 406 beneficiaries. The students really enjoyed the workshops and HIV awareness has been raised among Deaf children and young adults.
Many Deaf children do not access education. Parents often cannot afford uniforms, transport or they do not know where to send their Deaf child. SLCZ is busy helping Deaf children get into school.
She has never been to school and was 15 years old when we met her. She has never learnt sign language before. This is her first day at school. SLCZ has helped her to start school. We have also been teaching her Zambian Sign Language. She loves school.
SLCZ has also helped Catherine and Melina who are both Deaf to get into school. Both these girls are enjoying school and learning sign language too.
She is a 30 year old Deaf woman. On completing school some of her grades were not good enough. SLCZ has helped her to rewrite some of the subjects and her grades have improved. She now wants to be a teacher and is being funded through SLCZ to go to ZAMISE college to learn to be a teacher.
This is Rabecca, she was raised in a single parent household and is Deaf. Life has not been easy for her. SLCZ wanted to help Rabecca get a skill. We took her to the Madevu Skills Training Centre. Rabecca is now a qualified tailoress and has been able to support herself financially with this skill.
This is Precious, she reached grade 7 but then stopped school due to limited finances. SLCZ has helped her with school fees. She has now returned to school and is in grade 8
This is Overton, he was doing well at school passing his grade 9 exams. Sadly his family circumstances changed and school fees could not be paid so he stopped school. SLCZ have helped him return to school. He is now in grade 10 and very happy.
SLCZ have assisted Sunny Sikaula to start at Munali School. Unfortunatley because of his mums poor health, Sunny is cared for by his elderly grandma and she is unable to pay the boarding fees. He is currently in Grade 10 and working really hard.
Lydia is a wife and mother who lives in Lusaka. Both her and her husband are Deaf. Unfortunately her husbands work is not enough to cover the basic needs of the family. In April 2021 she was selected to be the beneficiary of a sponsorship for a one-year tailoring course at Jitwa Designing and Tailoring School. She has now passed all her exams, and is starting to set up a business. SLCZ have funded her to have a new sewing machine.
SLCZ supported Gerald in a one year tailoring course at Lusaka Business College. During his course he has learnt to make a variety of items such as pillows and pillowcases, skirts, and other garments, and he has never missed a day of school. Gerald has now finished his training and SLCZ are helping him to start his business working from home.
Many Deaf children and teenagers are isolated within the family. Parents and siblings have no access to Sign Language classes and have no successful way to communicate with their Deaf child/sibling. This means many Deaf children spend hours alone missing out on family time. This leads to frustration, anger, sadness, loneliness and depression.
SLCZ has arranged at a local Special Education School to teach some basic Sign Language skills to parents and siblings of Deaf children. We have run the class each week for several months. Some of the teachers at the school have also joined.
This is Mulima and her family. Mulima is Deaf. She is part of a very loving family. They really want to communicate better with her so SLCZ have arranged a community based Sign Language program making it easier for them to access the class after work and school finishes.