Report from Umivita, May 2010

Hello - we thought you might like to see what Umivita were up to last month. Your very kind donations fund their salaries: they are young deaf people in Tanzania helping people like them. This report is in their own words, although summarised.

Progress Report for May, 2010

Searching for job opportunities for the Deaf People

After deaf people Salma Kassali and Idd Mohamed emerged among more than 100 applicants to be interviewed by Ministry of Labour and Youth Development in the post of Office Attendants, UMIVITA meet with authority about need of availability of sign language service during the interview which was accepted.

Their emergence was a result of last December lobbying and advocacy meeting with the ministry in which UMIVITA presented three names qualified for the post. We hope all or one of these two guys would win the post because of government assurance as well as new policy approved recently securing disabled in employment.

Letter writings

Writing letters to companies and institutions to keep us informed whenever employment opportunities arise for young deaf people.

Purchase orders

Mwenge Deaf Carpentry Group got order of making and supplying tables and chairs for newly constructed Johannesburg Hotel at Sinza, in Dar es Salaam after Umivita Secretariat meet with the Hotel’s Management on early of month.

Education Report for May, 2010

Activities

Most of the works in class were preparing students for terminal examination which included tests

Benefit : That Preparing the children on the next terminal examination and to assess their ability in understanding their subjects .

Education

HIV /AIDS counseling training

Two UMIVITA education staffs with HIV/AIDS counseling and testing skills were among several teachers who went in Mbeya region to provide one week HIV/AIDS training among deaf children of six units in the region at the end of the month.

The programme was prepared by Ministry of Education.

Benefit: The training would benefit the deaf children in the region which is the one of with high level of prevalence in Tanzania and hence decrease deaf children who affected/infected and made vulnerable to HIV.

Hours and attendance

Average students’ attendance at evening class was 49 with 18 hours spent per week.

Hope this was interesting - love, Lucy

Maggie Harvey - goodbye

This is to say that Maggie Harvey, a stalwart member of the Tanzanear committee, has finally resigned after many years of marvellous advice and help. She is hugely experienced in working in developing countries, and we are very sad to see her go. We hope she enjoys retirement and having a bit more of a rest, and wish her much happiness.

Lucy and the rest of the Committee

New headteacher at Buguruni School for the Deaf

We had a lovely email from Matilda to say that the new head teacher has already started! We are really happy about the potential for new motivation and fresh life in the school. Matilda said, in an email to Judith Roberts:

"Love from Buguruni School for the deaf. Thank you for greeting me through the mobile phone. Things are starting to change. One nice thing that the new Headteacher is chasing around ,is cleanness. In the Domitories, everywhere around the school.The Boarding girls have labbled her { mama msafi} meaning a clean mother. That is a very nice start for her.

Her name is Winfrida Jeremia"

It's such good news that the new head seems to have so much energy and that the children already see her as a mother. Judith and Nigel are going to Tanzania in a few weeks and are looking forward to talking to her about how we can work together, and what sort of help she would like from us.

Lucy