Locals encourage sign language education for all
The church in Mamelodi East recently welcomed eight deaf people to their congregation, and raises awareness about deaf people.
“The education department in our country should teach our children sign language at a primary school level.”
These were the sentiments of the Mamelodi residents during the Deaf awareness Day event held at Restoration Evangelical Ministry at Ext. 6 in Mamelodi East recently.
Pastor Irene Mokgonuana said the church is celebrating International Month for Deaf People to educate the community about deaf people in our different societies.
She continued, saying that this is an annual event at the church. She added that they have welcomed about eight deaf church members to the church.
“We are raising awareness about deaf people because the community need to understand that deaf people also need love and want to communicate with us,” Mokgonuana continued.
She said it is never too late to start learning sign language.
The church has its own sign language interpreters to embrace the deaf community, and the church preschool and Sunday school teach the younger children to sign.
“The interpreters help deaf people to understand what is being preached in the church, and [help] them not to feel left out,” said Mokgonuana
“Every Sunday, the interpreters stand side by side with pastors to help interpret what is said in the Bible,” she said.
“The church saw fit that we must also accommodate them, so that they can feel that they are part of the community, and that God loves them too,” she said.
“The church also wants to encourage parents not to hide deaf children and children who have difficulty hearing, because these children [could] end up dropping out of school,” continued Mokgonuana.
She asked parents with deaf children to bring them to the church, as many places can help.
The church has a dedicated social auxiliary worker, Refilwe Malapela, who is also a member of the deaf community and has specialised training in community support.
Malapela also volunteers at the Mamelodi East police station, hosting deaf awareness workshops, providing accompaniment services for deaf individuals, and addressing broader social issues such as gender-based violence and substance abuse.
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