THE DEAF WEEK

The event kicked off on the 21st September to the 27th September 2009. The Kenya Federation of Deaf Teacher was among the Deaf organizations which participated in the event. The event marked the first time celebrating the Deaf Week in Kenya since Independence. The theme of this year was Human Rights and Sign Language. Most of the Kfdt branches in the 8 provinces in Kenya, especially in Nairobi, Nyanza and Western, participated in the event. The week went well in most areas, but in one area (Maseno School for the Deaf) pupils and other people were denied a chance to participate in the activities. This happened because of bad leadership and other issues. However, the Deaf teachers went on with the day-activities and eventually brought many impacts to the community.

In areas like Nyang’oma (Bondo), Mumias, Kuja and Nairobi the event went on peacefully. So many people were eager to get to know more about the Deaf rights and Sign Language. Major activities that were carried out in Kfdt branches were as followed:

1. Football and Volleyball matches.

2. Celebrations in Deaf churches and visiting hospitals.

3. Walks through the streets to catch the attention of other citizens.

4. Teaching Sign Language, Deaf rights and the Finger alphabet to people (e.g. Piki Piki guys) and government officials like the police.

In some areas Deaf Teachers were carrying a Banner saying: “DEAF WEEK. Theme: Yes! Sign Language.”. The event attracted a lot of people on the streets, on the market, in the shops etc. Some of them joined the activities of the Deaf and Hearing Teachers, others stopped working because of their huge interest in this new area. We distributed them with some leaflets (The Finger alphabet and numbers).

In the future (next year) Kfdt is going to carry out a well planned event which should take place countrywide to ensure national recognition on the rights of the Deaf children, teachers and other adults. The Kfdt is really determining to ensure that the Deaf education has a good reflection for the Deaf children in Kenya.

There is always a need for funds to ensure its activities are carried out effectively.

Now I may take this opportunity on behalf of Kfdt to say THANK YOU friends and supporters. Without you the Deaf Week event this year would not have been such a big success. Thank you again and we are really looking forward to continue working with you to bring the change we want and the chance we believe in Deaf education in Kenya.

Asante sana! Austine Otieno

Kenya Football Federation for the Deaf & the Deaf Women Volleyball Team

Kisumu, 7th August of 2009. Kisumu is crowded with people in green Safaricom T-shirts. On the back it says : Kenya Football Federation for the Deaf. Hundreds of them are walking through the streets of the town from the Matatu stage to the two stadiums, holding a big banner. It's a great atmosphere, full of laughter, and the spirit to have a wonderful weekend.
This year the Nyanza Deaf Women Volleyball Team participates for the first time in this kind of event for the Deaf.
It is the first time that women teams in general are a part of it.
Besides almost 10 men teams (playing football and volleyball), from places around Nairobi till Kisumu, three women teams (only volleyball) want to show what they can and show how hard they have worked during the last months. The teams are coming from Kisumu, Nakuru and Nairobi.
The weather is great during the day so that the first day turns out as a fantastic start. The women finish their games the same day. Nairobi team on the first place, Kisumu second and Nakuru third. Our Kisumu team played great, good looking in their new uniforms.
Hopefully the teams are able to participate in the next competitions in December and April as well.
But with this great spirit and motivation nothing is going to keep them away from more wonderful experiences and days during these events.
Thank you very much for those days. Looking forward to more of them. This was just the beginning. A very great one!

Nyanza Deaf Women Volleyball Team

On behalf of the Kenya Federation of Deaf Teachers (KFDT) and the Deaf Community Sport terms in Nyanza, I (as the national chairman) would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to friends and well-wishers who have given their contribution towards the Deaf Women Volleyball team through our patron Nele Gabriel.

We were able to buy some uniforms. This gave us the possibility to participate in the National Deaf Volleyball Competition 2009.

This was the first time for the Deaf Women Volleyball Team to participate in such a competition and we all hope that the teams are able to participate in the next competitions as well.

Thank you all for your cooperation and support.

Best regards,

Austine Otieno

Maseno School for the Deaf Homepage

Read more about the school:
www.masdeaf.com

TARGET GROUPS of KFDT and PROGRAMMES

KFDT uses many ways to fulfill its mission.

Target groups of KFDT are:
-Deaf children
-Parents of the deaf children
-Deaf teachers
-Government, NGOs and other organizations interesting in support the Deaf people
-Media
-Employers
-Schools for the Deaf
-Deaf communities


PROGRAMMES OF THE KENYA FEDERATION OF DEAF TEACHERS
In order to fulfill its mandates KFDT do the following programmes:

1. Education
KFDT plays a major rule in:
a] providing technical support to the institution for the Deaf on ways to improve Deaf education.
b] Involving in curriculum developments for the Deaf in conjunctions with the Kenya Institute of Education.
c] Encouraging deaf students to be trained as teachers
d] Facilitate the use of Sign Language in schools and in the general public

2. Bursary and sponsorship:
KFDT has established a bursary scheme from which deaf children, who are orphans and whose parents are unable to pay the boarding fees, get financial support. These kind of help supports them to get primary, post primary or college education.
They act as a role model to the other deaf people.
80% of the Deaf people in Kenya have never entered a classroom. We call for help to enable many deaf children to get access to the educational system and to stop the drop in education.

3. PUBLICITY:
KFDT is currently carrying out public campaigns to disseminate information about the different programmes to create awareness to the public about the problems of the
Hearing impairment.

- Organizing of seminaries and workshops to make the community aware of the needs of deaf children and adults in the country.
- Organizing sport events for both deaf children and a adults.
- Sign language awareness creation to the general public

4. HEALTH:
KFDT is carrying out health programmes to the deaf people on emergency issues like Aids/HIVS,smoking,etc. Most of these activities are carried out through awareness events like sports, drama and seminars.

5. FUND RAISING:
The Federation relies on voluntary contributions from individuals and organizations to carry out its activities.
For this reason KFDT is involved in fund raising programmes inside and outside the country.
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS:
You can help the KFDT to achieve it activities by:
Sponsoring a deaf child or a deaf student who wants to join college or secondary school.
Giving donation to KFDT and help the federation in fund raising.
Providing your skills on voluntary basis to KFDT.
Providing materials and financial support to help the KFDT in organizing sports, drama, seminars.
Assisting the KFDT to educate hearing people to accept the deaf people in the community.


Thank you very much! The Kenya Federation of Deaf Teacher

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.

MDSHG

MASENO DEAF SELF HELP GROUP was founded in March 10^th 2005 and registered under the Ministry of Social Service within the law of Kenya.

MDSHG is an non-profit making organization operating within Maseno School for the Deaf, Kisumu City in western Part of Kenya.

It has considered the need and necessity for a self-help group to cater for the welfare and the interest of the Deaf within Maseno, Luanda and part of Kisumu in Nyanza Province of Kenya.

MDSHG expects to achieve the following objectives as in its constitution:

1. Raising funds for the implementation of the project activities

2. Trying to establish various projects to employ members (unemployed) in the activities

3. Offering Career guidance and Family Life Education for the members

4. Offering advice and general assistance to individual members in business managements

5. Cooperating with financial partners in implementing project activities

6. Assisting and encouraging the formation of Deaf woman's Self-help Group and other specialist programs for the furthering of the overall aims of the Group.

7. Training the school learners and equip them with skills for preparation of self employment

8. Facilitating Deaf Culture (The use of Sign Language)

9. Promoting Deaf- awareness to hearing community members to encourage parents who have Deaf children to take them to school

MDSHG has 18 Deaf members whose majority are youths, seeking leadership capacity and self sustainability to achieve uniformity development among its members.

MDSHG plan of Actions:

1. Seeking for financial partners to assist in its implementation of its objectives

2. Promoting stuff development that will equip its members with leadership quality in project management and knowledge in various fields of careers expectations

3. Trying to establish various projects that will help evadicate poverty among its unemployed members to enable them to earn meaning for living. Thus will eventually raise the standard of living.

4. Facilitating Deaf Culture by encourage the use of Kenya Sign Language (KSL) in school of the Deaf. Hearing teacher will be equipped with the necessary sign skills to help them cope with the teaching curriculum for better performance in the National Examination.

5. Promoting Deaf Education by creating awareness to both Deaf and Hearing communities and health issues such as HIV/AIDS campaigns and encourage the Deaf parents who have Deaf children to take them to school.

The Chairman

Maseno Deaf Self Help Group (MDSHG) in Maseno, Kenya

Email:

masenodeaf@yahoo.com
ka1george@yahoo.com

Looking forward to cooperate and work with you!

Welcome to Maseno! Karibu Kenya!

Thank you in advance! Asante sana!