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Introduction
Out of over 126 million Nigerians, over five hundred thousand are deaf or hearing impaired. The fact that the dialect of this ‘ethnic’ group is not easily comprehensible by the larger populace has made it difficult or near impossible to absorb them into the formal / secular working environment. Those of them that are self-employed do not enjoy patronage from hearers, as hearing people thinks they are incompetent and unreliable. This stigmatization makes the deaf or hearing impaired, find it hard to trust the hearing, since they do not hear audible sound, “their auditory channel does not serve as the primary sensory means by which speech and language are received and develop.” Some of the deaf thus wallow in self-pity, and are on the average very aggressive. They have no hope of a better future and they are easily frustrated. However with the adoption of the American Sign Language as the unifying ‘language’ of the deaf in Nigeria, things are gradually becoming easier, a good measure of hearing ones has learned the language. This according to Dr. Ikechukwu Nwadinigwe, and Mrs. F.O. Anumonye, has the following advantages: 1. It signifies to the deaf client that there is someone who is interested enough in his welfare to have taken the trouble to learn how to communicate with him; 2. It gives a young deaf client a feeling of status to be able to manage his own interviews without the perennial need to have someone else to do his talking/thinking for him. This moves him to an important step along the road to maturity. 3. It enables the counselor to gain his client’s confidence and cooperation on a far deeper level than he ordinarily would; 4. The knowledge of communication methods by a counselor possesses distinct therapeutic communication values. The next challenge however, is how to create an enabling environment between Hearers, and the deaf or hearing impaired. This can be done when there is a basis for inter-relation between hearers and the hearing impaired. This inter-relation will cut across all human endeavors, from the working environment, in day to day living, sport, entertainment, and education.
In the working environment for example this inter-relation, would be
built when the hearers, appreciate the intelligence of the deaf, and the deaf on
the other hand do know that they have no reason to suspect hearers. Creating a Link
When most hearers end up as Presidents, Bankers, Managers, Accountants, Secretaries, Information Managers, Surveyors, Teachers, Businessmen, Fashion designers etc, the deaf end up as tailors, bakery workers, factory workers, printers, and they engage in menial jobs. Why would this not be so, when they cannot have the type of education hearers have? In Lagos for example with a population of about 20 million, of which close to 150,000 are deaf, can you believe that there is just one primary school and one secondary school for the deaf. In Nigeria Institute of higher learning there is very, very little or no provision at all for deaf students. For this reason, the average deaf person lives and wakes up in abject poverty, they wallow in self-pity, and most of them believe they have no future. More so, unlike developed nations, where extra care and attention are given to the deaf and other students with special needs, the academic attention given to people with special needs in Nigeria is not sufficient or not existing. True, there are schools for the deaf and hearing impaired scattered all over Nigeria, but we must ask ourselves the following questions: how equipped are these schools? Are the facilities well maintained? How much attention do the teachers give to the students? Are these teachers well trained to handle the challenges of relating with and instructing the deaf students? Due to his trend it is really hard to convince deaf ones that there could be an understandable relationship between them and hearers.
To create a blend, give the deaf hope, empower them, to be able to cope
with the challenges of living as minorities in the midst of the hearing
majority, and to assure hearers that deaf people deserve to be given equal
opportunities / chances to contribute their quota to the society, we saw the
need to construct… The ‘PROTHESE’ Initiative Projects (P.I.P.)
rothese’ is the French word that implies ‘aid for the deaf’. ‘The Prothese Initiative Projects’ however is basically based on training the deaf to use the computer, (i.e. breaking down computer technology in American Sign Language). ‘The Prothese Initiative Projects’ is also a deaf empowerment initiative that is aimed at giving the deaf a positive outlook on life or better still we hopes to turn the life of the average deaf person in Nigeria around, we want to make them believe in a better tomorrow.
Presently in Nigeria, we are at the peak of the computer boom, so the PRIMARY
AIM of the initiative is: to train the deaf or hearing impaired to use the
computer, while our objective is to see that ‘qualified deaf are provided at
the end of the program, so that they can be absorbed into the formal/secular
working environment’.
Other Aims:
Program Structure of the PROTHESE Computer TrainingThe training is an intensive practical training on how to use the computer. It will run for 3 months, three days in the week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), from 3 to 6pm. There is an added one-month for Industrial Attachment. After which the deaf would be ready to work. The program course include: Typing (30wpm), Introduction to Computer & Windows Operating System, Microsoft Word 2000, Microsoft Excel 2000 and Corel Draw.
At the end of the program participants will be awarded Certificate in
Information Management and Graphics. When Did Work Start On the Project?The idea was conceived sometime in 2002, there was the period of designing and conceptualizing of the project, and the shape it will take. Real work however started by April 2003. The first phase of the project was the training of American Sign Language experts that are now serving as instructors for the project. The second phase is the training of the deaf themselves, which has commenced fully since Monday 8th September 2003. Are the Deaf expected to pay?No, they are not! We have taken their economic conditions into consideration, and have decided the training will be ‘without charge’ for the deaf. Our vision for the deaf in Nigeria is summed up in… The Why’s of The Prothese Initiative Projects?In Education…What is on ground now: The level of education of the deaf in Nigeria is very low. *Why is the attention paid to deaf education little or non-existent? *Why can’t there be more functional primary, and secondary schools for the deaf in Nigeria? *Why
are teachers of deaf not well trained to carry out their duty? *Why
don’t universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions in
Nigeria have special communications provision for the deaf? In the Society…
What is on ground now: Deaf people are looked down upon; they are jobless, termed ‘incompetent’, no chance / opportunity is given them. *Why
can’t
the deaf be gainfully employed on merit, rather than out of pity? *Why
can’t
deaf self-employed persons’ (fashion designers, carpenters, hairdressers,
printers, bakers, etc.) enjoy patronage from hearers, so they can make ends
meet? *Why
is
there no television news program specifically for the deaf in ‘sign
language’ in Nigeria? *Why
are the deaf looked down upon and not accepted as special members of the society
that have a distinct language? *Why
are
deaf sport stars not celebrated? In the Provision of Health
Services…
What is on ground now: there is absolutely no concern / interest towards
the provision of quality health services for the deaf. *Why are health / social workers not interested to learn sign language, to be
able to communicate with their deaf patients? *Why are deaf HIV/AIDS patients stigmatized on two counts? *Why are there no awareness whatsoever about health problems like HIV/AIDS,
Sexually transmitted diseases, meningitis, malaria, etc for deaf people? There are many more questions to be asked, there are many solutions to be proffered, and we are a long way from the answers… How Will The Initiative Be Funded? Like other non-governmental organizations worldwide , we
will rely on donations, supports, and grants from people and organizations from
all over the world that believe, and are touched by our work. The Expansion Plan
he Prothese Initiative Projects is an expanding projects, we have plan to gradually expand from Lagos and Abuja (FCT) in Nigeria, into all other state of the country, and subsequently into other West African countries as there is no service like the one Prothese is providing for deaf anywhere else in West Africa. The first class of Prothese has 10 students. It was a test-run, and the class was constituted on a first come first serve basis. We have plans on ground to expand the class structure, thereby giving more deaf the needed leverage. After the first class (so that attention can be given to each member of the class, the class size will not be more than 10), we hope to increase classes to 5 (that is an additional 4 to what we have on ground), get more computers, train more hearing American Sign Language experts, and in future we hope to have a Mobile Prothese Team that will move from state to state to reach the deaf and hearing impaired ones scattered all over Nigeria. There is also the deaf run “Prothese Cyber-café”. The deaf will not pay to surf the Internet here, it is the bit of money generated from hearers patronizing this café that will be used in maintaining the café project. The
Projects of the Initiative The Prothese Computer ClassWith this project we are working towards incorporating qualified deaf person’s at the end of their computer training class into regular/secular working environment with hearers. The Prothese Cyber café
This project is an extension of the computer class, it is a cyber café service for the hearing public, but managed by the deaf. The Deaf FestivalThe festival is an annual event to celebrate deaf people from all over the world; it is aimed at drawing attention to the life and style of deaf people. Unique things that deaf people are doing will be exhibited. Deaf Fashion designers, Models, artist, sculptors, etc will be on parade… The Prothese Documentary The Prothese TheatreThis project is a stage and film presentation aimed at uplifting deaf ones. Different stories written by hearers and deaf alike for this project are presented on stage and later shot as film. The Prothese TV ShowThis is a TV magazine show in Sign Language, segment on the program includes: news, sports, entertainment, musicals and comedy. HIV/AIDS Awareness CampaignThis project is HIV/AIDS and sexuality sensitization for the deaf in sign language. The campaign has started in Lagos, and we hope to take the message to both urban and rural areas where deaf people are living. Education SponsorshipKnowledge is power; the Prothese projects will help qualified deaf ones, who wishes to continue their education at institutes of higher learning receive sponsorship to achieve their dreams. So we need…
Support And SponsorshipWe
will appreciate the support of every noble Nigerian (here in Nigeria or abroad),
Financially stable deaf persons world-wide, Non governmental organizations,
International Non-government organizations, Corporate bodies, Government at all
level, towards sustaining our vision. We will appreciate computer (PC’s)
donations and Laptops for the Prothese computer team.
Apart from all of the above, the
Prothese Initiative Projects will also need Financial Assistance and Sponsorship. We can be
contacted THE PROTHESE INITIATIVE PROJECTS
Lagos: C/o Dr. Ikechukwu Nwadinigwe RMB28 Education Foundations University of Lagos Postcode: 101012, Lagos. Postal Address: 14, Ifesowapo Street Ebute Ilaje Bariga, Postcode 100007, P.O. Box 5351 Somolu Lagos Nigeria Telephone: +234(0) 802-3196007 Abuja: Suite C6 (2nd floor) Noble Complex, opp. Corporate Affairs Commission, Area 11 Garki Abuja. Telephone: +234(0) 8051404612 Details can also be sent to the email address of the initiative at:
Would all donations be judiciously spent? You may ask. Well there is: The Managing CommitteeThis is made up
of credible men and women. They are in-charge of the running of the initiative.
It is their job to develop practical ways in which the deaf are to be empowered.
They include: Training Manager, an Assistant Training Manager and 4 counselors
that are American Sign Language literate. The Director and head of the Managing
Team is Aireomiye Melchy Olamide James, a computer scientist by discipline, he
has stints in Journalism and Advertising, and he has professional certificate
from ITPAN (Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria) training
school, in Producing, Directing and Scriptwriting. The Managing Committee is under the supervision of the; The Supervisory Committee/Board of TrusteeThe Prothese Initiative Projects is a Non-Governmental Organization, it is a practical deaf empowerment initiative, the Managing Committee is under the Supervisory committee. Members of this committee include:
The Supervisory Committee, advises and oversees the activity of the Managing Committee. They
will meet once in a month to access the report of the Managing Committee Join UsWe encourage all hearers, deaf, or hearing impaired to register to be on our mailing list. To do this, send e-mail to [email protected], or register via our temporary web page at http://protheseip.topcities.com with the following details. Your Names, Age, Contact Address, Occupation, Sex, Marital status and Your Story (if deaf or hearing impaired, about 1000 words). You can also send this by regular post to our office. Take NoteThat the
Prothese Initiative Projects is not deaf organization, but rather it is a deaf
empowerment initiative aimed at drawing a
parallel between the hearing and hearing impaired in Nigeria. Prothese is also
to develop practical steps to empower the deaf. It is open to all deaf and
hearers alike. For clarifications and further enquiries about the Prothese Initiative Projects, please call Melchy on phone number 08023196007. Thanks
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