Some Pics and Stories

DeafBlind children are taking their lunch. They have a small unit at Maseno School for the Deaf. Most of them have a certain kind of disability. The majority of them have no parents. Some of their parents separated and abandoned them after finding out that the child is deafblind. Those children really need help to meet their daily challenges in life like schooling, employment, awareness to their families, so that they can change their negative attitudes towards them.

Deaf Kids are participating in drama and sports which is one of the Kids programs. It is not always easy for them to attend such programs because of a lack of sports equipments like balls, clothes, transport fund and among others.

Two of the many Deaf orphans whose life has been turned upside down as they hardly get adequate education. Since the majority of the pupils at Maseno School are orphans, some really depend on their relatives and friends who feel the need of helping them. Not all of them often complete their education because of a lack of sponsors to support them.

Maseno Deaf Self Help Group (MDSHG -> other post) members participate in the seminar organized by Brand Kenya. The group has been active in Deaf community Development, giving awareness to the general public about Deafness, their needs, care and support. Many people do not know the needs of Deaf children because of traditional believe about the Deaf.

Many Deaf men, women and youths are members of the group. They developed skills in different professions like carpeting, tailoring, farming and many others. But they hardly find a job to be able to live a normal life because of the ignorant knowledge an about the Deaf by the Kenya Government. Donations and Support towards the group can help us to start carpeting and tailoring workshops, farming to enable the members to take care of their families and even open a new way for the young Deaf people who are still in school to join their activities to change their lives.

Austine Otieno, chairman of the Kenya Federation of the Deaf teacher, presents a ball to the Deaf youths, including members of Deaf Ministry and the Deaf Youth Program (Health, Sports, Awareness, Drama and Dance and many other). The Deaf youth are a mostly forgotten youth group. There is a great need of providing awareness of the emergency issues like HIV/AIDS campaigns, unemployment, drug abuse etc. If they are given opportunities to participate in the various activities, such as awareness programs, they will be finally seen as useful members of the society in the future. Since most of the emergency issues focus on the hearing people the Deaf are left behind. Help is needed in order to overcome the challenges, e.g. starting carpeting workshop or a health club, drama club and more. Your support on whatever in form of funds, materials, skills will help them a lot.