According to Kenya National Population Census of 2019, a larger portion of the deaf population lives in rural areas.
Sharon Mukami, a DEAFOP youth Champion and a sign language teacher at St Mary Goreti girls high school in Embu, , addressing during the training at Deaf Outreach centre at Runyenjes, Embu County.
The Deaf
Outreach Organization has launched a sports programme aimed at empowering young deaf
Kenyans through sports.
This initiative comes at a crucial time, as studies show
that 5.5 percent of the world population experiences hearing loss, with Kenya
alone having approximately 2.7 million people with hearing impairments.The initiative will use sports as a tool to enhance
inclusion for deaf youth, particularly girls in three deaf supporting academic
institutions of Machakos School for the Deaf, St Luke’s School for the deaf in
Embu and Mary Magdalene School for the deaf at Riandu in Mbeere North Sub
County.The program,
called Leveling the playing Field for deaf Youth in Livelihood and Skills
Training, seeks to
address discrimination in Sports and create opportunities for young deaf
individuals.Speaking during a stakeholders training session at the deaf
outreach program office in Runyenjes in Embu County, the program founder and
Director Gloria Njoki emphasized the importance of sports in building
confidence, teamwork and negotiation skills.“For a long time, deaf youth have faced exclusion in sports.
Through this program, we aim to restore their presence in sporting events while
equipping them with key life skills that will contribute to their personal and
professional success,” Njoki said.Funded by Laureus Organization, the program will take place
at deaf learning institutions and offer accessible content for digital space.It aims to reach out to at least 600 deaf learners,
including over 300 girls aged 15-24.“By integrating both online and offline resources, we ensure
that no learner is left behind due to geograpghical barriers or time
constraints,” she stated.Further, she urged the government and the public to embrace
sign language as a recognized mode of communication to steer greater inclusion.The stakeholder training, held on Friday, brought together
trainers and representatives from institutions across Embu County, Machakos and
other regions.They emphasized on need for collective effort to mainstrean
deaf disability rights through education, sports and accessible technologies.Sharon Mukami, a DEAFOP Champion and a sign language teacher
at St Mary Goreti high school in Embu, applauded the program and said it will
serve a boost in skills absorption.She noted the sign language as among the best perfomed
subjects in school and encouraged more school to embrace the subject.“I’m a very proud sign language teacher today observing the
deaf students and young people at the verge of recognition and empowered,” she
said.According to Kenya National Population Census of 2019, a
larger portion of the deaf population lives in rural areas.Further the report states access to education and employment
opportunities for deaf individuals remains among the most challenging for the
deaf due to limited awareness and lack of accommodations.
Sharon Mukami, a DEAFOP youth Champion and a sign language teacher at St Mary Goreti girls high school in Embu, , addressing during the training at Deaf Outreach centre at Runyenjes, Embu County.
