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http://www.nation.sc/index1024.php?art=5534
The first ever Association of People with Hearing Impairment (APHI) in Seychelles has been launched.
The launching ceremony, held recently at the Docklands Cinema on Latanier Road, was marked by the presence of the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vincent Meriton, the chairperson of APHI, Anita Gardner, a group of people with hearing impairment, other members of the association, parents and guests.
Mr Meriton, who was granted the honour of officially launching the association, said that the initiative had enormous significance for the future of Seychelles, in that "it portrays love, understanding and solidarity by selfless volunteers for a noble cause, and that we should celebrate it."
He said that the government, in collaboration with the National Council for the Disabled, was formulating an Integrated National Disability Strategy which will encompass all issues relating to uplifting the lives of people living with disabilities.
Mr Meriton said that the society was fully committed to working with those people living with disabilities and improving their lives.
He also hailed the “Curiosity Project” which in the past four years has been offering sign language classes to deaf children after normal working hours.
"Many parents are now happily talking about the remarkable progress that their children have made in communication and in the way that they socialise. This is very good news. An extraordinary solidarity has developed amongst you and I commend you all for keeping this flame alive," he said, adding that the revamping of the sign language programme by the Education and Social Services Departments with the training of a newly identified teacher in Reunion, will serve to further reinforce this process.
In her address, Mrs Gardner, who is also the manager of the “Curiosity Project” based at Victoria, remarked that there were at least 200 persons with impaired hearing in Seychelles and that living in a world designed for normal hearing people was a challenge for them and hence would need all the support required.
She noted that one of APHI’s objectives was to ensure the right of employment, access to all educational, social, cultural and medical services necessary for the realization of their full potential.
Mrs Gardner noted that their first target was to get sponsorship to build a proper centre for the deaf, now that APHI has already got authorization to register in the directory of one of the largest deaf associations in the United Kingdom, with 35,000 members who are keen to support the association and provide the centre with all the necessary equipment and other grants Mrs Gardner said that APHI's task would be a challenge but they were positive that with the support of members and sponsors they would surely attain their aims.
A special part of the ceremony involved the translation of speeches into sign language by three Seychellois who have learnt the language, for the benefit of the deaf who were present.
To date APHI has over 40 members who are mostly people with hearing impairment, as well as other individual members and parents.
Those who are interested in joining the association can do so and they need to pay a membership fee of R100 per year.
At the ceremony students of the “Curiosity Project” who have performed well during the year were rewarded as a form of encouragement for all their hard work. There are 15 students on the project and they follow sign language classes in English and also do craftwork.
Maureen Constance and Jonathan Sam received awards for best students for the year 2005.
Apart from presentations of awards there were also music, dance performances and karate demonstrations by some students. The group of students also interpreted the song You Raise Me Up in their sign language with the music in the background to thank their tutors namely Mrs Gardner, Ms Sharifa Salum and Ms Simona Istrale, for their support and understanding.
The first ever Association of People with Hearing Impairment (APHI) in Seychelles has been launched.
The launching ceremony, held recently at the Docklands Cinema on Latanier Road, was marked by the presence of the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vincent Meriton, the chairperson of APHI, Anita Gardner, a group of people with hearing impairment, other members of the association, parents and guests.
Mr Meriton, who was granted the honour of officially launching the association, said that the initiative had enormous significance for the future of Seychelles, in that "it portrays love, understanding and solidarity by selfless volunteers for a noble cause, and that we should celebrate it."
He said that the government, in collaboration with the National Council for the Disabled, was formulating an Integrated National Disability Strategy which will encompass all issues relating to uplifting the lives of people living with disabilities.
Mr Meriton said that the society was fully committed to working with those people living with disabilities and improving their lives.
He also hailed the “Curiosity Project” which in the past four years has been offering sign language classes to deaf children after normal working hours.
"Many parents are now happily talking about the remarkable progress that their children have made in communication and in the way that they socialise. This is very good news. An extraordinary solidarity has developed amongst you and I commend you all for keeping this flame alive," he said, adding that the revamping of the sign language programme by the Education and Social Services Departments with the training of a newly identified teacher in Reunion, will serve to further reinforce this process.
In her address, Mrs Gardner, who is also the manager of the “Curiosity Project” based at Victoria, remarked that there were at least 200 persons with impaired hearing in Seychelles and that living in a world designed for normal hearing people was a challenge for them and hence would need all the support required.
She noted that one of APHI’s objectives was to ensure the right of employment, access to all educational, social, cultural and medical services necessary for the realization of their full potential.
Mrs Gardner noted that their first target was to get sponsorship to build a proper centre for the deaf, now that APHI has already got authorization to register in the directory of one of the largest deaf associations in the United Kingdom, with 35,000 members who are keen to support the association and provide the centre with all the necessary equipment and other grants Mrs Gardner said that APHI's task would be a challenge but they were positive that with the support of members and sponsors they would surely attain their aims.
A special part of the ceremony involved the translation of speeches into sign language by three Seychellois who have learnt the language, for the benefit of the deaf who were present.
To date APHI has over 40 members who are mostly people with hearing impairment, as well as other individual members and parents.
Those who are interested in joining the association can do so and they need to pay a membership fee of R100 per year.
At the ceremony students of the “Curiosity Project” who have performed well during the year were rewarded as a form of encouragement for all their hard work. There are 15 students on the project and they follow sign language classes in English and also do craftwork.
Maureen Constance and Jonathan Sam received awards for best students for the year 2005.
Apart from presentations of awards there were also music, dance performances and karate demonstrations by some students. The group of students also interpreted the song You Raise Me Up in their sign language with the music in the background to thank their tutors namely Mrs Gardner, Ms Sharifa Salum and Ms Simona Istrale, for their support and understanding.