Raising Awareness on COVID to deaf learners and selected Deaf Communities
Involved alumni:
The challenge that the project addresses
Currently Malawi like all countries worldwide is awash with information on COVID-19. In Malawi, much of the information that is being relayed is through internet, radio and television. Deaf children and people in deaf communities rely on sign language as such, they are deprived of COVID-19 information.
What is your project doing to respond to this challenge?
Thus the project is aimed at carrying out awareness campaigns to school children at school and some deaf community leaders in Blantyre townships on preventive measures of COVID-19. Awareness message will be relayed through sign language. This is only mode of communication that can be available to many deaf children and adults. Moreover, during the awareness meeting I will disseminate just released: “Policy Brief: A Disability-Inclusive Response to COVID-19” that was released this month of May, 2020 by United Nations. The project is intending to produce a DVD featuring COVID-19 message in sign language and be played on selected television stations in Malawi.
Describe the project's impact
• Deaf children at school and deaf communities will have adequate knowledge on COVID-19 issues, its signs and symptoms.
• Deaf children at school and deaf communities will be able to take a precautionary measure to avoid contaminating and further spread of COVID-19
• Deaf children at school and deaf communities in other parts of Malawi will be able to follow COVID-19 message on a number of TV stations.