Sport bonanza for deaf children charms stadium

by Our Correspondent

Handicap not withstanding, the Sheikh Amri Abeid stadium in Arusha was a beehive of sporting activities on September 5 when 55 deaf children participated in a sports day for Hearing Impaired (HI) units located in various local schools.

"Every child has the right to play" was the slogan printed in Kiswahili on the new tracksuits for the deaf children, who participated in the sports day. Meru, Ilboru and Patandi Mazoezi primary schools have HI units, where hearing impaired children follow normal primary education.

Terre des Hommes Netherlands started the ‘Nafasi sports education project’ in August 2001 to support the special units in Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions. Last year the focus was on the units for mentally handicapped children. This year they work with the deaf and next year with the blind.

Teachers in the units conduct workshops on sports and sign language. Since deaf children are equally fit as hearing children, Terre des Homes Netherlands tries to encourage teachers of the HI units to include hearing children in the sports lessons at school.

The sports day held last Friday included only the deaf children. The teachers of the three schools organized several games in a circuit system, whereby children competed in relay races with a bottle balanced on the head, sack race, tug of war, volleyball, ready, high jumping among others. Parents were also present to cheer the children and to enjoy.

The Nairobi-based Regional Director of Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Ms Leny Kling and Nafasi Project Coordinator, Ms Anne Kuijs presented certificates and prizes. Children were called forward through making their personal sign, and applauding in sign language is done through waving with the hands in the air.

Exercise makes one hungry, so a luncheon was hosted at Meru primary school. In their speeches parents expressed appreciation for the sports day, but they also shared their concerns about the future of the deaf children after they finish primary education.

As of now there is no further education accessible by deaf children, which is hindering them in getting jobs. Some deaf children have the potential to go to university, but only because the education system lacks facilities for teaching them, they are automatically left out. 

Last modified: September 11, 2003.
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