Tshabalala Primary School shows support to the deaf community

Tshabalala Primary School in Phake Section in Katlehong hosted a deaf-awareness event on September 13.

The purpose of the event, held on Casual Day, was to support and raise funds for the Ekurhuleni School for the Deaf (ESFTD).

To make the day a success, Tshabalala Primary sold deaf-awareness stickers for R10 each to learners and teachers from the school.

The money raised was an estimated R3 900 and donated to the school.

According to Khanyisile Ndlovu, coordinator of Casual Day at Tshabalala Primary School, the school wanted to show their support for the learners of ESFTD.

She also said she was happy that the day was a success.

“It always feels good to do something good for another person. So as a school, we are happy that we managed to do something good for the disabled children from our community,” said Ndlovu.

She also thanked parents, children, non-teaching staff members as well as teachers for supporting the event.

“My colleagues did a good job by helping support this good cause,” Ndlovu said.

The world celebrates Deaf Awareness Day on the first Friday of September, but due to xenophobic attacks that broke out that week the two schools had to postpone their event to the second Friday of September.

The purpose of the day was to draw attention to deaf people, their accomplishments and their issues. Deaf Awareness Day was dedicated to educating the public about hearing loss, deafness, deaf culture and sign language.

Speaking on behalf of ESFTD, Konki Moabelo thanked Tshabalala Primary for their support.

“We are happy with the donation. This is one school that has been giving us support for the past few years. “Sixty per cent of the money is going to Casual Day and will be divided among all centres that help disabled people and 40 per cent will remain within the school. The school will decide what to do with it later. But, whatever we will do with the money, it will be in the best interest of disabled children from our school,” said Moabelo. Moabelo thanked all stakeholders from Tshabalala Primary School for their support.