Training leaders in Zimbabwe's Deaf Community

We are delighted to report that thanks to you - our generous donors- our funding target is almost achieved. We are back at the centre and open for youth activities. We were delayed from doing many of our group activities due to another COVID 19 lockdown, but we have been able to work with small groups of youth.

Today we had a group of 14 health workers at Nzeve for a deaf awareness workshop.  One of our deaf youth mentors, Tina, was a presenter.  Tina came to our preschool in 2001-3, she then went to a local school, and later to a boarding school in Harare for secondary school.  Tina was involved in training as a mentor and today she confidently took part in a role play on how to help deaf people when they go to the hospital.  She also taught people some sign language. We want others to be able to do the same.

Deaf youth have few opportunities and often lack confidence to express their views. The leadership training helps them to develop this confidence.  Becky, another of the students, is on attachment at a small safety clothing company.  Becky’s hearing problem was not recognised till she was a teenager. She first came to the centre for a girls’ camp and initially she struggled to fit in.  She explained how her family did not support her or recognise her potential, but Becky wanted to come to Sanganai Project.  She persuaded her family to let her join and now she is a capable dressmaker!

Young deaf men learn carpentry at the youth project. This is mostly done using hand tools. Takunda started his attachment with a local carpenter recently. His boss sent us a video and said “Takunda is brilliant at mastering usage of machines I am so impressed. I am prepared to take him for employment when he has finished training.” Takunda will be involved in some leadership training.

We are looking forward to doing more group training activities in the next few months.  Both young men and women will benefit from the training events, and young people who have already had some leadership experience will be involved in training others.