Primrose resident’s journey to self discovery
It has been a learning journey and self-discovery.
Suvana Majiare (41) continues to break the silence of her life-long hearing disability. “All my life I have depended on lip-reading out of a fear of rejection, being teased and other challenges that come with being deaf,” she said.
The Primrose resident is a finalist in the Ms. Deaf SA competition.
“I was overjoyed and baffled at the same time when I heard I was a finalist. When I started, it was not easy because of the things we have to do before the finals. I had to really come out of my comfort zone. It has been a learning journey and self-discovery,” said Suvana.
She is partially deaf and says that has always been a challenge to explain to people but since being part of the pageant she has learned to embrace herself.
“I have met women who are completely deaf and are full of confidence and have fully embraced their disability. Now, I’m not hiding my condition and have learned confidence,” said Suvana.
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She said the pageant has been a healing process and she loves how far she has come.
“I didn’t think I was good enough, pretty enough or even smart enough to be selected as a finalist. But now I’m confident in myself and I post motivational quotes and I was even able to wear a swim wear, something I would have never done,” said Suvana.
She said she wants to carry the torch of change for the deaf community.
“There are many challenges we face, especially when it comes to communication. Sign language should be an official language. I have been lip reading my whole life and survived on my 30 per cent hearing when there is no background noise. But if sign language is an official language we will be able to communicate,” said Suvana.
She said sign language has been one of her challenges as a finalist.
“Being a finalist has its challenges but for me, the biggest one was to learn sign language; however, it has given me a sense of happiness that I have never experienced in my life before. It has opened up a whole new world for me,” said Suvana.
Contact the newsroom by emailing:
Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.
