Malawi: The Malawi National Association of the Deaf has announced their plans to promote sign language literacy. The people of the deaf community have been dedicated to the improving the life of their fellow members through these efforts.
The members of the community have shared that with more people within the community being trained in sign language. The training center will help the deaf children have better communication skills by learning sign language. The training can also be accessed by other members of the community who will be able to exist in better cooperation with the deaf.
The announcement that the Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MANAD) will be training people was made by acting director of MANAD, Malonje Phiri. The organization has claimed that theey plans to open a sign language training centre in Nkhata Bay.
The training center will help to address challenges encountered by deaf children in the district. The children will be able to express themselves and communicate with the others in their family and their community.
She made these remarks on Monday in Nkhata Bay when she closed a three-day training for parents and Nkhata Bay District Council officials on sign language.
Phiri said that most teachers and other stakeholders in delivery service setups cannot communicate through sign language, hence the idea to open the centre.
“We have trained various government departments such as Health, Education and Police on how they can serve the deaf through effective reciprocal communication.
We, therefore, invite those interested to attend sign language classes once the centre is opened next year so that we minimize communication barriers with deaf people,” said Phiri.
Chairperson of Parents of the Deaf in Nkhata Bay, Jonathan Hara commended MANAD for the training.
“We are however waiting for the centre to be opened as this initiative will ensure that our children access education, health and other social services that will make them become reliable citizens of this country, ” Hara added.
Director of Administration for Nkhata Bay District Council, James Tembo said the training has been an eye opener to many, attributing to be a catalyst towards achieving inclusive development.