Students with hearing impairment join Au Cap school |13 September 2010

Anita Gardner, chairperson of the Association for People with Hearing Impairment (APHI), said education has always been a priority.

She was speaking at the launch of Deaf Week at the International Conference Centre on Saturday.

Mrs Gardner said this year the association will concentrate on the education aspect in line with the theme for this week – Education: a right for all. The main activity will be to identify the resources that schools will need, she added.

Present at the launch were Designated Minister Vincent Meriton – who is also Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports – Minister for Social Development and Culture Bernard Shamlaye, principal secretary for social development Linda William and principal secretary for education Merida Delcy.

Others there included the chairman of the Liaison Unit for Non-governmental Organisations of Seychelles Bernard Elizabeth, members of the Diplomatic Spouses’ Association of Seychelles and sponsors.

During the launch, the audience watched a PowerPoint presentation showing the causes of deafness, and the achievements and challenges of the APHI.

In Seychelles there are an estimated 600 people with a hearing impairment, and illiteracy is a major problem they face.

The association is working on a project for a school for people with hearing impairments, and Mrs Gardner added they want to cater for those on Praslin as well.

During the school holidays, several educational activities were organised by the APHI for the younger children, and during the launch they each received a gift for taking part.

The association also rewarded the best students and those who made a special effort in their work during the year. Amenda Bill was presented with the best student award, while Debra Dogley received a shield for the best effort.

Both students are working on the dictionary project for those with a hearing impairment.

Two sign language teachers – Shana David, who was crowned Miss Deaf last year, and Benett Botsoie – won awards as the best deaf persons of the year.

Mrs Gardner said the two teachers have shown great determination, and the APHI has seen the results of what was invested in them.

A group of APHI students amazed and delighted the audience by performing Shakira’s Waka Waka dance, which was very popular during the recent football World Cup in South Africa.

Several sponsors presented the association with donated items and cash, which will be used to buy educational materials for the students.

The Seychelles Round Table donated a laptop and a projector worth R16,000, while the Rotary Club handed over R6,000.

Barclays Bank donated R5,000 worth of educational materials and is also contributing towards the dictionary project.

A representative of Mili Foods handed over R3,000, while Manfred Heinkelein, director of the Hanneman Holiday Residences, presented a cheque for R1,000.

The APHI also thanked Air Seychelles and the government for supporting and contributing to the association.