Shot in the arm for gwanda communities
shot in the arm for gwanda communities
May 4, 2022
By Kudakwashe Kutinyo
Gwanda -The recent successful second sign language workshop for stakeholders in Gwanda has revealed a strong message of inclusivity towards improving communication through sign language within communities.
Gwanda community paying attention to the sign language facilitator. Picture by Choice News Africa
NTF director Pick Nkomwa of the Foundation that brought the exercise to the people, also applauded the stakeholders for hosting this successful workshop.
“The sign language training workshop was a great success and I’m grateful to our partners the Sunrise Sign Language Academy and ALASO academy for convening a well-attended workshop as this was well organised.
The community members who braved the rains to attend sign language workshop in Gwanda. Picture by Choice News Africa
The workshop was one of the outstanding in attendance, as 110 trainees from Ward 16 community, came out in this big number, signaling our most acceptance and welcome.
The participants included the Ward Councilor, headman, village head, and government representatives in the ward,” He added.
“There were no serious challenges as far our programming is concerned. It was raining on the day but villagers withstand the rains and attended the workshop”.
The Director also emphasized the outcome of the sign language after it was concluded.
“The participants were composed of all age groups from different backgrounds. After the training, participants were able to communicate in sign language, singing and dancing orderly,” said Mr Nkomwa.
Mr Sipho Humphrey Sibanda the Founding principal of ALASO academy was thankful to the stakeholders who made the workshop a reality and a success.
“Our partners in Gwanda Nkomwa Foundation Trust are the ones who made this workshop a success and a possibility”.The plan is to make sure that languages such as Sign Language that have been marginalised for a long time enjoy the hegemony that is being enjoyed by English, Ndebele and Shona hence these can and will be used as mediums instruction,” he said.
He added that more workshops are yet to come and plans to conduct these workshops countrywide are at hand.
“We plan to reach more people and continue with community engagement projects throughout the country in form of workshops,” said Mr Sibanda.
ALASO Academy is a Non-Governmental Organization situated in the capital Harare which was instituted after the realization of a gap in the teaching and learning of indigenous and foreign languages. The main thrust of the academy is to develop, advance, promote and professionalize languages and language-related fields.
The Founder and Board Chairperson of Sunrise Sign Language Academy Mr Douglas Mapeta said the workshop was a success, as the main objective to empower community members through sign language training was fulfilled.
“It is the thrust of our partners to empower communities through training Sign language and disability awareness to destroy stigma and discrimination amongst everyone thereby leaving no one behind,” he said.
Mr Mapeta was amazed by the attendance of people from both Gwanda urban and rural.
“The Gwanda community welcomed the initiative with both hands and showed their appreciation to the organisers and facilitators by attending in their numbers. Through this initiative, we have managed to train Gwanda urban and rural in Sign language and disability awareness which was well received and more trainings are on the cards for Gwanda Polytechnic and other churches in Matabeleland South,” Mapeta added.
Local leaders also applauded the kind gesture to bring workshops that are a viable solution towards effective sign language communication.
“We are grateful that we all managed to come regardless of the rains, thank you very much Mr Nkomwa and the entire team and partners for bringing to us a rare skill”, said Cllr Jairos Mahopolo.
He pleaded that local non-governmental organizations continue to introduce workshops in the ward.
“Please may you arrange for a one-week training with our community so we embrace the diversity. Our community will continue supporting this development agenda you are bringing to us. It will indeed go a long way in assisting the deaf people in our communities.
Mr Mogorosi Makhurane the Headman gave Nkomwa Trust Foundation assurance of support and hinted on giving the organization an office to operate in the ward.
“All the ward 16 leadership is here and I do not think there is any one against the idea of an office in our area. Even if you say next week, a temporary office will be available and my community members are grateful for this empowerment you have done to us”, concluded Mr. Makhurane.
