DeafNET Newsletter English - May 2021

www.deafnet.org +27 23 342 4003 2021 30 De La Bat Rd, Fairy Glen, Worcester, 6850 NEWS LETTERDAenan1fiNv5etEhrTs’asry! May 2021 IN THIS ISSUE: 06 IMPLEMENTATION OF DEAF EDUCATION 01 MESSAGE FROM BEEKEEPING MANAGER - RSP in Chad 02 07 PROMOTING LEADERSHIP PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE - Leadership Training in Cameroon - Leadership Training in Tanzania - DeafNET HIV Toolkit 2 - Beekeeping in Kenya 03 - Accreditation of DeafNET Sign Language PROMOTING SIGN LANGUAGE - DeafNET Africa Conference 2022 - Sign Language Training in Crossroads & Beaufort West 08 THE WAY FORWARD 04 PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP - Pastry Making in Mauritius - Beekeeping in Uganda 05 DeafNET Africa AWARENESS-RAISING Conference February 2022 - Reproductive Health Workshop in DRC

2021 01 MESSAGE FROM BEEKEEPING MANAGER “ Dear Friends, Your ability, flexibility and willingness to “ We are looking forward to what 2021 will meet these challenges of working in bring to our Deaf community in Africa. Africa are making a difference in the Deaf Amidst many hardships resulting from the community. All this has been made recent pandemic-related problems, possible with the support received from DeafNET has continued to execute its DeafNET and a determined Deaf projects in different regions on the population across the regions. African continent. Thank you to all the Our thoughts are with Deaf people Regional Representatives who have affected by Covid–19 and everyone to continued to execute projects even in help those in need. Stay safe and stay these extraordinarily difficult connected!!!!!!! circumstances. DeafNET Africa Some of DeafNET’s projects Conference achievements and other initiatives February 2022 throughout the first quarter of 2021, are highlighted hereunder. 1 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 02 PROMOTING LEADERSHIP Social Competence in Leadership Cameroon 1 – 5 February 2021 DeafNET in partnership with COBICERSOM hosted a Social competence of Leadership in Cameroon. The workshop was held at the Conference Hall of COBICERSOM in Bafoussam. The training workshop was attended by twenty-five Deaf participants coming from ten different regions in Cameroon. The outcome of the training is to uplift and empower future Deaf leaders so that they can serve the Deaf communities. DeafNET Africa Conference February 2022 2 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 Social Competence in Leadership Tanzania 22 - 26 February 2021 DeafNET in partnership with Tanzania Empowerment for Persons with Disability and Gender Health Organization (TEPDGHO) hosted another Social Competency in a Leadership workshop within Dar-es-Salaam. The workshop attracted a total of 25 participants from different regions in Tanzania. The workshop aimed at strengthening the representatives through knowledge, skills, competencies and abilities so that they can make significant contributions to their deaf communities. DeafNET Africa Conference February 2022 3 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 03 SIGN LANGUAGE South Africa February – March 2021 DeafNET in partnership with the Department of Social Development (DSD) hosted two Sign Language workshops and 1 Sign Language Awareness Raising for NEET (Not in Education, Employment, and or Training) Youth from different Youth Cafés from 22 February to 5 March 2021 in the Western Province. A Sign Language Awareness Raising workshop was held on the 6th of March in Beaufort West. The overall objective is to create a Deaf friendly environment and for this to ultimately become a job creation initiative with skills development and youth empowerment. Impact at glance DeafNET Africa Conference SL TRAINING February 2022 WORKSHOPS APRIL 2020 - MARCH 2021 4 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 04 PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP Pastry Making Mauritius 27 February 2021 After the successful completion of the second pastry making workshop and follow-up workshops, the 8 participants of the skill development program were finally awarded a certificate on 27 February 2021 at Community Social Welfare, Curepipe, Mauritius. The certificate of participation was handed by Ms. Irani Jankee, Indian Ocean regional representative and congratulated all the participants. DeafNET Africa Conference February 2022 5 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 Beekeeping Uganda 6 March 2021 Currently, over 40 Deaf people are directly practicing Beekeeping in Jinja. They have formed and registered a community-based organisation (Jinja Deaf Beekeepers Association), a joint venture aimed at stimulating the growth of the group through internal and external lobbying. The major milestone so far has been that the group is independently processing and packing before selling its honey. Mr. Edgar Bwire gave Eastern regional representatives further training on how to market honey on the local market. DeafNET Africa Conference February 2022 6 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 05 AWARENESS-RAISING DRC March 2021 Sexual and reproductive health problems remain a serious concern in the Deaf community in DRC. Ms. Marie Louis Kanda hosted different workshops in Kinshasa to create awareness, especially amongst Deaf women of reproductive age. 06 PROMOTING DEAF EDUCATION Chad February 2021 Three Deaf educators from Centre de Formation Professionnelle des Jeunes Sourds Deaf schools in Chad received hands-on training in the Red Star training in November 2020, at De La Bat School. The educators have started to implement the RSP in their school. DeafNET Africa Conference February 2022 7 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 07 PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE DeafNET HIV Toolkit 2 DeafNET is taking a step toward increasing HIV awareness in the Deaf Community, in Africa. The DeafNET HIV toolkit 2 aims to provide information and guidance primarily to the Deaf community in Africa. It is designed and developed primarily to assist with HIV awareness-raising in the 6 regions in Africa namely Northern, Eastern, Western, Southern Central and the Indian Ocean Islands. The project is in an advanced planning stage and the kick off will be in May 2021. Beekeeping in Kenya DeafNET Africa Conference DeafNET through its regional representative will February 2022 be starting a new beekeeping in Kenya to train 10 new Deaf beekeepers. The main purpose of the project is to contribute to poverty alleviation and also to promote sustainable development initiatives for Deaf people within the rural areas. It is seen as a transboundary project covering the East Africa region. 8 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 Accreditation of DeafNET Sign Language Due to COVID 19, ETDP SETA has changed their Accreditation Process and are backlogged with applications. All our Accreditation applications have already been submitted and waiting feedback. DeafNET Africa Conference 2022 Unfortunately, the global outbreak of the coronavirus COVID-19, DeafNET had to make a difficult decision to postpone the conference to February 2022. The management knows that it is a tough call to make, the health and safety of the Deaf communities are our greatest concern. DeafNET will announce the new dates at the latest by the end of June 2021. DeafNET Africa Conference February 2022 9 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 08 WAY FORWARD DeafNET intends to build a qualified project team (deaf and hearing) in the next 2 years, to execute our accredited programmes. Our new approach empowers our target group to take control of their development as well as developing the Deaf community in their respective region. DAenan1fiNv5etEhrTs’asry! As part of our 15th anniversary celebrations, DeafNET’s 2nd quarter newsletter will have a special edition. Follow us on Facebook or visit our website for the most up-to-date information on what’s happening. DeafNET Centre of Knowledge www.deafnet.org DeafNET Africa Conference February 2022 10 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021

2021 THANK YOU TO DEAFNET’S MAIN SPONSOR: Thank you to our donors and volunteers. DeafNET has been able to adapt and strive for progress during these uncertain times. SMS DeafNET to 48821 and donate R10 WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT! DONATIONS: DeafNET Africa Conference Our bank details: February 2022 Bank: NEDBANK Account Number: 1020462655 Account Type: Cheque Account Branch Code: 101507 Swift Number: NEDSZAJJ Please fax/email us your proof of payment. Fax: +27 23 3471052 Email: [email protected] 11 THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2021