Disability Rights Zimbabwe Project #52768

Training leaders in Zimbabwe's Deaf Community

by Nzeve Deaf Centre

Project Report | Feb 11, 2025
Raising Leaders to enhance economic empowerment and Health issues!

By Blessing Chaipa | Director

In Zimbabwe, Deaf individuals often encounter difficulties accessing crucial information concerning safeguarding issues, health matters, and economic empowerment support. This challenge arises from the fact that information is often presented in formats that they struggle to comprehend, requiring interpretation in many instances. To address this disparity, Nzeve conducted a series of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) sessions aimed at training Deaf leaders. The primary objective was to confront the obstacles linked to information scarcity in the health sector. Nzeve's efforts extend to empowering these leaders to confront safeguarding issues, HIV/STI concerns, and economic empowerment through specialized training programs. These efforts seek to narrow the informational gap between the Deaf community and essential knowledge related to health, safeguarding, and economic well-being.

In January, a session focusing on HIV was conducted with 17 Deaf members at the Mutambara Deaf Club. The session aimed to empower participants by disseminating information on HIV/STI issues, modes of transmission, preventive strategies, symptoms of different STIs, and where to access services such as family planning. Attendees were also educated on diverse income-generating activities to bolster their economic stability. Assessment for potential Income Generating Activities (IGAs) was conducted to determine the need for further support among club members.

The initiative to empower Deaf leaders has yielded significant results. One participant articulated, "I feel empowered. This training has not only enhanced my economic prospects but will also benefit my fellow Deaf individuals as I share this valuable information with them."

Nzeve's commitment to nurturing leaders within the Deaf community to address a spectrum of challenges, with adequate interpretation services, is made possible through unwavering support from our funders.

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Oct 4, 2024
Strengthening Deaf Advocacy on Mental Health!

By Blessing Chaipa | Acting Director

Nzeve's commitment to training Deaf mentors as peer educators has taken a step forward with a focus on Mental Health conditions that arise from Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) issues and SRH issues that arise due to mental health problems. This initiative aims to empower Deaf mentors and Parent Mentors within the community to serve as advocates for mental health awareness and support.

In September, Nzeve conducted a training program for 12 Deaf mentors from Munyoro, Honde Valley, Rusape, Sanganai, and Chipinge Deaf clubs.

The training aimed to equip deaf mentors with knowledge of how mental health and SRH interrelate and affect one another for example mental illness could possibly lead to reckless sexual behaviors such as unprotected sexual intercourse or multiple sexual partners and SRH issues such as STIs, HIV/AIDs, and SRH violation through rape that could possibly lead to depression or even substance abuse.

Having grasped the techniques of identifying the relation mentors were equipped with skills to offer support to their peers and eventually refer for the rightful services especially as they conduct home visits to support their peers in SRH. The Home visits that the Deaf mentors will be conducting offer a unique opportunity to identify and address mental health concerns.

The training addressed a variety of mental health issues starting with the capacity to distinguish between mental health and mental illness, the causes of mental health disorders, signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, coping mechanisms, the significance of emotional health to how the individuals can seek appropriate support. Particular attention was given to the specific challenges encountered by the Deaf community and how the Deaf mentors can educate their peers about mental health.

Through interactive sessions, role-playing exercises, and group discussions, the mentors developed a comprehensive understanding of their responsibilities as mental health advocates as they interact with the Deaf community. They learned how to lead support groups and connect community members with relevant mental health resources. The Deaf mentors expressed a strong commitment to applying their newfound skills and becoming champions for mental health awareness in their communities.

One Deaf mentor remarked, “I can now understand mental health issues that are affecting me, and I will also be able to help others as I conduct home visits”. Our Deaf mentors have gained confidence and are ready to take on leadership roles to ensure that everyone has access to essential mental health information.

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Jun 3, 2024
MORE DEAF LEADERS FOR INCLUSIVE SRH EDUCATION!

By Blessing Chaipa | Acting Director

Nzeve's commitment to training Deaf mentors as peer educators on sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) has continued its momentum. Nzeve remains committed to raise Deaf mentors within the Deaf community who can serve as SRH mentors and advocates for their peers, leveraging the power of sign language to promote healthier lifestyles.

In March this year, Nzeve conducted a two-day training for 8 new Deaf mentors from the Makwasa, Mutambara, Sanganai, and Chipinge Deaf clubs. This time around the training aimed to dig deeper into the topics these new Deaf mentors were going to discuss with their other peers. Another key objective of the training was to equip the new Deaf mentors with the knowledge and skills required to fulfill their responsibilities as SRH mentors.

The training covered a range of SRH-related subjects, including reproductive anatomy, family planning, sexually transmitted infections, and the importance of seeking timely medical care. Particular emphasis was placed on the unique challenges and needs of the Deaf community, and how the Deaf mentors could effectively educate and advocate for their peers.

Through interactive sessions, role-playing exercises, and group discussions, the mentors developed a deeper understanding of their role as Deaf SRH mentors. They learned how to facilitate workshops, lead support groups, and connect community members with relevant health services and resources.

The new Deaf mentors expressed a strong commitment to putting their newfound skills into practice and becoming champions for healthier lifestyles among their peers.

One Deaf mentor said, ‘After learning more about SRH , I feel empowered now I can educate my deaf colleagues back in my community’.

Another Deaf mentor said, ‘Its my first time to learn about SRH and I have been missing a lot of information , now that I know , I can also help my other deaf friends.”

Our Deaf mentors have gained confidence ,and are ready to partake their leadership roles to ensure that everyone has access to essential health information.

Nzeve's continued investment in training Deaf mentors as peer educators is a testament to its unwavering dedication to empower strong leaders and advocates in the Deaf community for healthier lifestyles.

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