POLOKWANE – Even though people can often speak more than one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, how many of us can actually use, or understand, sign language?
The Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) Limpopo is initiating a deaf awareness campaign to not only share information about deafness but to also raise money to help people living with deafness.
During the campaign the organisation aims to educate the community about having an inability to speak or communicate verbally as well as an inability to hear and how it affects people’s lives.
“Being deaf does not mean you cannot think or reason, or even communicate with those around you, it also does not mean you cannot work. We are able and can communicate and it is high time that everyone across the world make an effort to learn how to sign,” said Patricia Kgamane, the Provincial Director of DeafSA, who also happens to be deaf herself.
During the campaign the community is urged to donate R10 towards this cause, not only to help make the lives of those living with hearing and verbal speech impairment easier but to encourage people to learn sign language. They will distribute basic sign language pamphlets, containing the alphabet and some gestures towards reaching this goal.
Donations to the cause can be made at the DeafSA offices in Polokwane in Thabo Mbeki Street.
In the video DeafSA Social Auxillary Worker, Charita Shikwambana, demonstrates sign language…
Read more in next week’s Bonus.
