A group of 52 youth with hearing impairments have participated in exposure visits and exchange learning opportunities, sharing experiences and knowledge on running savings schemes, individual business projects, and market penetration.
This is through “Deaf Youth Empowerment Project” by SignHealth Uganda’s Mission, which aim at empowering deaf youth across the country.
During a meeting held in Kyebando- Kampala, Mr. Paul Ssenteza, the director SignHealth Uganda, said “today, we have had an engagement with deaf young people on the key issues they are facing, and we are zeroed down on two key areas of our work, that is access to the productive health information, and the second one is about boosting their own income so that they can live independent lives, and we have been graced by honorable Safia Nalule Jjuko, the chairperson Equal Opportunities Commission, who has committed to share our issues with the relevant government agencies and other development partners”.
He noted that about sexuall productive health, two things came out, mainly, the information that is shared with other partners, other agencies, on media and elsewhere, is not packaged in a deaf-friendly way and unable to be accessed by people with hearing impairment.
Commenting on economic empowerment program, Mr Ssenteza noted that this group of young people with hearing impairments started a savings group, which, within a span of only one and a half years, have been able to raise 15 million of their own.
He stated “if government programs like the operation wealth creation, Parish development model and other schemes try to reach out to them in a more customized way they can be able to boost their income and live more independently, because they have shown that with their limited income, they can try to do something on their own, but they also need financial literacy so that they are able to operate viable businesses
He said the Empower deaf project has achieved significant outcomes in two key areas: empowering deaf youth and working with families.
“The project has also carried out family awareness and communication training with parents, leaders, and focal teachers, supporting over 210 parents on care and protection issues for children with hearing impairment. Sign Health Uganda’s mission is to promote and inspire partnerships and innovations that achieve equitable access to inclusive social services and opportunities for deaf and deafblind people,” he remarked
Education Support:
SignHealth Uganda’s education support program provides pre-school classes for deaf children aged 3-6 years, taught by professional teachers.
Challenges and Recommendations:
The project highlighted several challenges, including limited access to government programs, lack of sex education in deaf schools, and limited job opportunities for deaf individuals.
In her remarks, Hon. Safia Nalule Jjuko applauded the work does by the organisation such as designing materials for education and awareness, training of health workers among other.
She said “this kind of work has contributed to them not getting and suffering from HIV, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, not losing their lives because, you know, of getting unwanted pregnancies with no care and no communication with health workers when they go to deliver, they also bring another problem. They don’t have their own money to start businesses. So having identified that issue, they started a savings team, starting with 40,000 shillings, but now they have a saving up the tune of 15 million shillings. I think this is amazing. But the challenge they they are getting, they would like to expand the amount of the their capital. Unfortunately, as much as they hear about government programs like parish development model, they have not been able to get access to information and also to benefit from these programs”
