Miss-Delectable
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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=vn20060502001720277C209189
South Africa may have a deaf veterinarian in the coming years if the outreach projects of the University of Pretoria continue successfully.
The university's faculty of veterinary science took 21 pupils from St Dominic's School for the Deaf in Hammanskraal on a tour of their facilities recently as part of an initiative to introduce deaf learners to careers with animals.
The learners, from grades 4, 7 and 8, had been chosen specifically by the school because of their interest and participation in environmental projects.
He would definitely consider a career in veterinary sciences
"This trip really helped develop the children since some of them had never even played with domestic animals before," said teacher Blessed Moloi who accompanied the learners as they toured the main buildings and played with training beagles and cats kept on the grounds.
Seventeen-year-old Velaphi Ngobeni said he would definitely consider a career in veterinary sciences now that he had been to the faculty.
"I'm also going to tell everyone how we were welcomed here and how great the dogs are," said Ngobeni, a Grade 7 learner.
The visit was the brainchild of Rachel Lebogo, a supporter of the non-profit organisation Eco-Access.
Lebogo said that upon learning that deaf students were not allowed to study biology until they reached matric, she had realised that something had to be done.
'It's good for the animals to be exposed to people and good for humans to interact with animals'
"I'm trying to expand their career options and it makes me happy to see them enjoying themselves," Lebogo said.
Dr Marianne de Vries, who specialises in behavioural medicine, said the project had many benefits.
"It's good for the animals to be exposed to people and good for humans to interact with animals," she said.
"The amazing thing is that it is easier for deaf people to communicate with animals because animals don't understand spoken languages and only understand body language," De Vries said.
"I feel so honoured to work with these kids and hope that in the short term we will be able to arrange internships for some of them to become kennel hands, and in the long-term, that we'll be able to help deaf people gain access to university to obtain veterinarian degrees."
South Africa may have a deaf veterinarian in the coming years if the outreach projects of the University of Pretoria continue successfully.
The university's faculty of veterinary science took 21 pupils from St Dominic's School for the Deaf in Hammanskraal on a tour of their facilities recently as part of an initiative to introduce deaf learners to careers with animals.
The learners, from grades 4, 7 and 8, had been chosen specifically by the school because of their interest and participation in environmental projects.
He would definitely consider a career in veterinary sciences
"This trip really helped develop the children since some of them had never even played with domestic animals before," said teacher Blessed Moloi who accompanied the learners as they toured the main buildings and played with training beagles and cats kept on the grounds.
Seventeen-year-old Velaphi Ngobeni said he would definitely consider a career in veterinary sciences now that he had been to the faculty.
"I'm also going to tell everyone how we were welcomed here and how great the dogs are," said Ngobeni, a Grade 7 learner.
The visit was the brainchild of Rachel Lebogo, a supporter of the non-profit organisation Eco-Access.
Lebogo said that upon learning that deaf students were not allowed to study biology until they reached matric, she had realised that something had to be done.
'It's good for the animals to be exposed to people and good for humans to interact with animals'
"I'm trying to expand their career options and it makes me happy to see them enjoying themselves," Lebogo said.
Dr Marianne de Vries, who specialises in behavioural medicine, said the project had many benefits.
"It's good for the animals to be exposed to people and good for humans to interact with animals," she said.
"The amazing thing is that it is easier for deaf people to communicate with animals because animals don't understand spoken languages and only understand body language," De Vries said.
"I feel so honoured to work with these kids and hope that in the short term we will be able to arrange internships for some of them to become kennel hands, and in the long-term, that we'll be able to help deaf people gain access to university to obtain veterinarian degrees."