THE Deaf community has been described as isolated and needs to be celebrated as they are also thriving in so many ways.
By Patricia Mashiri
Giving his key note address at a belated International week of the Deaf (IWD) Commemorations, Mr Marvin Mukuyu, a model who is also an artist said it was sad that even though deaf people thrive in different sectors, they are rarely recognition and appreciated.
We try to fit in but it is difficult. We need not to loose hope because we have to keep pushing so that we improve ourselves. There is no much recognition to deaf people in Zimbabwe.
“Let’s try to advocate for one another so that we get the recognition and support we want,”Mukuyu said.
This year’s, the theme has been ‘Celebrating thriving Deaf communities’ dedicated to celebrating those that have been flourishing with the aim of inspiring.
Meanwhile, Ms Tinotenda Chikunya, the Deaf Zimbabwe Trust (DZT) Communications Officer said this year’s commemoration also at a time Zimbabwe has made strides at policy level, a move she says will go a long way in empowering marginalized communities of persons with disabilities.
“We are also celebrating the milestones we have achieved as a country in improving the lives of persons who are Deaf which include the Sign Language Syllabus for Grade 1 to3, the Inclusive Education Policy which puts Sign Language at the center of learning for learners who are Deaf, a sign language manual was developed by the Judiciary Service Commission which improves access to justice for Deaf people. Deaf people have begun to access higher education so all these are achievements to celebrate this year,”Chikunya said.
Chikunya highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic posed a lot of challenges even though they innovated and devised means of overcoming the hurdles.
“COVID19 presented with a lot of challenges and the greatest challenge was access to information, as Deaf Zimbabwe Trust, we continued packaging COVID-19 related. information in Sign Language and ensured that the media also provided Sign Language and captions on all information. The livelihoods of Deaf people were also affected and we came up with a good basket drive to help people who are Deaf with food
"Due to COVID-19 movement and gatherings are limited therefore we cannot meet up with the Deaf Community for psycho social support workshops so now we make use of TV to reach out to the Community," she said.
DZT has been providing support to the Deaf Community through influencing policy change, providing psycho social support to parents of children with disabilities and to children with disabilities. They have also been giving provision for Sign Language lessons to parents of children with disabilities as well as the public.
Theodora Gasva, a holder of a Diploma in social work from the Women University in Africa was one of the Deaf ladies who was being celebrated for achieving greater heights.
“I am deaf and I completed and graduated my two year diploma. We were four deaf females and pioneers at the Women University. We faced a lot of challenges especially with translating words because sign language is not yet fully developed.
“We had to create signs for us to understand especially in modules like Psychology. Sometimes the interpreter could not catch up with the speed of the lecturers but I’m glad it’s now improving,” Gasva said.
Currently Gasva is helping the deaf community by scouting for deaf children who are not going to school and linking them to DZT for help and also their parents so that they can learn sign language.
