Posted in February 2014

 
　We received a donation from Japan Process Development Co., Ltd.

　JCCP in order to conduct sign language training as a part of our ongoing community-based peace building project in Kenya.

　We greatly appreciate the support from Japan Process Development.

　JCCP has been operating in the Kenyan “Mathare Slum” since 2008. The Mathare area is one of the regions most devastated by the riot after the presidential election (2007-2008) and is a complicated community comprised of all 42 Kenyan clans.

　The JCCP is now executing a community peace building project in Mathare area. This project has focused on strengthening conflict prevention mechanisms based on communities so that habitants are able to prevent and manage conflict. Specifically, our activities enhance the capacity of local human resources including elders and women, build confidence between local young people and police, provide psychosocial support for the vulnerable including children, and raise awareness for ethnic coexistence by conducting environmental activities, etc.

　Those local activities introduced us to the issues involving deaf children who hardly communicate with local counselors despite of their counseling needs because of hearing damage caused by conflict or violence. We faced a big challenge on how we should support those who were not able to communicate smoothly even with their own family members.

　Based on the ideal that the most effective support required sign language training for family members and local counselors in addition to introducing educational facilities specialized for deaf children using our own networks, the JCCP planned and conducted a sign language training course.

　The sign language training aims at more effective support for deaf children, which will be achieved by family members and local counselors who have acquired basic sign language skills so that they can smoothly communicate with the children.

　The training is expected to improve the ability of both home and communities to protect deaf children facing physical violence, sexual abuse, neglect, etc. When family and counselors who are closest to the children can directly understand their various requests, support improves in both quality and quantity.

　20 men and women selected to participate in the intensive training course for 10 days, a total of 80 hours, obtained basic sign language abilities. The trainees comprise eight parents of deaf children and 12 local counselors. 　According to a report from Deaf Empowerment Kenya (DEK) which supervised the technical aspects of the course, 20 trainees were able to communicate with deaf children using sign language with an average of 80% accuracy following completion of the course. Twelve local counselors who participated in the course have generated and enhanced the essential human resources to support for deaf children in the Mathare area.

◆counselors and family　members in the sign language training

　The pre-survey conducted by JCCP found that parents of deaf children had a hard time understanding what their children want. The children got subsequently became irritated and sometimes aggressive because they were not understood. A deaf child got sick but could not communicate symptoms and therefore suffered. The parents admitted that they often could not understand their child’s condition.

　According to the post-survey, communication within family members had significantly improved. Most parents are glad to be able to communicate with their children using sign language. Two children who have learnt sign language in a special school were unable to mask their joy when they realized that their parents started to use the same sign language with them!

　Conquering hearing disability and psychological stress – mother and child learning sign language together

　Sarah, living in the Mathare slums, has continuously received counseling with a JCCP local counselor. She has a five-year-old son, Stefan. He is hearing disabled and they live a stressful life.
　”Stephan is deaf. When he was two, we found that he was not able to talk normally. My family and friends said that witchcraft must be used on him or they recommended traditional medicine. Their sayings were very painful for me. My husband and I had to admit that our son had a hearing disability and that we were helpless for the disorder. We must accept the tough reality and go through it.”


◆A counselor and mother in the sign language course

　”My problem is that I cannot communicate with my son, Stephan. I cannot figure out what he thinks, what he wants now. I cannot understand why he throws a tantrum, which is very stressful.”

　”We worry about his future. How his life will be when he grows up? Will he able to live without our help? How will he get by without normal education like other children? Which school should he go? Is the school fee expensive? I cannot even take what I should do. Is there anyone who can offer a direction to me?”

　A JCCP local counselor recommended a school for the deaf to Stefan, Sarah’s son, through the DEK network technically supporting the sign language training course. Stefan receives specialized education for the deaf. Now he is learning sign language at the school and can use it in daily life.

　After participating in the course, Sarah was delighted to gain the basic skills of sign language. She now drills every day with Stefan, a faster learner than her, and tries to improve her skill.
　The sign language training has been widely recognized in Mathare area as one of the successful examples of community-based peace building projects conducted by the JCCP.

◆Brian, hearing-impaired, and his Mother, Florence
　Precious gift – a Mother and Son are now connected using sign language

　Brian, 8 years old, was born with a hearing disorder, being diagnosed as fully hearing-impaired. His mother, Florence, devotes herself to him.　

　Florence had already taken the opportunity to attend a different sign language class. Instructors, however, came infrequently, so she was able to participate the class only once in a month at most.

　”I doubt about the way people treat Brian. They do not recognize that he is an ordinary person like others except for his hearing disability. They keep him at a distance and do not let him play with their children.” Their attitude irritated Florence. Brian goes to a school where he can interact with other deaf children. Thanks to the sign language training in the school, he has enough ability to communicate with other people using sign language.

　Florence had high expectations for our sign language training. “I will do everything to communicate with my son more smoothly. He is an excellent boy and does well in school. If I gain enough skills of sign language, I can understand everything he talks to me, which makes our life much easier.”

　After she finished the training, she expressed her joy as a mother. “I am very happy now because I learnt much more than I expected. I was looking forward to the class every day. I want to learn sign language continuously. This class was the greatest gift for us. Thanks to the class we were able to let down a barrier between us. He is very happy too because I can understand what he says now.”

　Florence says she will strongly suggest to other parents that they let their deaf children go to school and that they themselves attend a sign language training course.