GADHOH
Gambian Association of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
We are looking for your help.....
As the website is in its infancy, events that have occurred at GADHOH may have been overlooked. If you can add any to the past events or further information to that on the site, than do let us know so that they may be included here. Also if you see any mistakes (factual or even spellings!) with any of the articles, please let us know. You may even have a suggestion of what you would like to see on the web site as we are always looking to improve it.
There are now about 1000 photographs on the web site. If any have the wrong date, name, location, or if you can name any of the persons in them, please email me with the correct details or if you have any to add, recent or historic, then please forward them with as much detail about the photo including date, location and subjects, so that they may be added to the website.
Any event that is happening that involves GADHOH please let us know well in advance so that we can advertise it on our website.
Many thanks. ebaker@blueyonder.co.uk
New Headquaters & Female Wing
We are Here - West Coast of Africa - in The Gambia - at Kanifing - near the Independance Stadium
GDSA Football Teams
Although taken in April 2008 here’s another great photo of the female and male football teams with coaches at the training ground.
There are some more photos from GDSA in the 2008 photo page, and some of our Irish friends who visited in December 2006 in the History page.
Disability Sports Event in July.......
The Gambia Deaf Sports Association is competing at the first disability sports event which is taking place this month. Teams from the Association will compete in the Volleyball and football and other sports include Wheelchair Basketball, wheelchair Athletics, and showdown and gold ball for the blind.
The event is being organised by the Gambia Paralympic Committee formerly The Gambia Physically Disabled Sports Association, and will be held over three days at Serrekunda West, as part of its awareness raising in relation to sports and disabilities. It is being sponsored by the British Big Lottery Fund (BLF) and it is hoped that this will become an annual event in preparation for the 2009 All Africa Japhaf games in
Those interested in being involved with the event can contact Lamin Ceesay or any member of the GDSA. Further details will follow.
What a Great Photograph
This will bring back a few memories ....
Andrew Mootoo has kindly sent this photo taken in July 2004 of the Deaf Club for Angela Sielsingers leaving party. What a fantastic gathering.
Are you new to Sign Language?
Here are a few tips for those who do not usually use sign language (and reminders for those that do) which aids communication and will be appreciated.
When you are with a Deaf person you should not:
· Stand with a window or light behind you. This will throw your face into shadow and make it more difficult for the Deaf person to follow your communication. Stand where the light falls on your face.
· Try to attract attention in an aggressive way by kicking, slapping or punching.
· Touch parts of the Deaf person’s body, other than the shoulder or arm.
· Interrupt a signed conversation by walking between two people using Sign Language.
· Look away during a conversation as this breaks off the communication. It may also be interpreted as a sign of rudeness.
· Sign with your hands if you are holding something. Things being held restrict the ability to sign accurately and therefore the Deaf person will find it harder to understand you.
· Do not eat, chew or drink, or have a pencil/pen in your mouth while signing as they block the view of your face, distract and interfere with communication.
· Have your hands to your face & away from your mouth.
Etiquette
· Position yourself so that your hands, face and movements are clearly visible.
· Always try & maintain eye contact with the deaf person.
· If you are talking to a hearing person with a deaf person present, always make sure that the deaf person is included in the conversation.
· When attracting a deaf person’s attention it is acceptable to tap them on the shoulder (gently!), or wave your hand in front of them (not too close!).
· Try & keep your hands free as gestures can help a deaf person understand you a great deal better.
· Use sentences, not just words on their own. Contextual clues are easier to understand than words on their own.
· If a sentence is not understood rephrase it.
· If a word is not understood change that word for another similar word (some words are difficult to lip read or look similar to other words).
· If you change the topic make sure that the deaf person is aware of the change.
· Don’t give up ! There are other means of communication like;
Write things down.
Use facial expression (but don’t exaggerate).
Use gestures.
Point to the “subject”.
Draw pictures in the air.
· And how about learning to finger-spell from the Sign Book page?
International Visitors
Fund raising committee
27th May 2008 -
St. John’s school for the deaf receives a new computer room.
12th May 2008
One of our members photograph has appeared on another web site The Joshua Project, a Christian awareness website. Click on the link to find out who it is.
Meet the staff of the Female Wing.....
Miss Amie Cham, the New Secretary General. Amie is also an auditor at the National Audit office in
Deaf employment
GADHOH has facilitated some unemployed members taking up work in the newspaper business. Mr. Ebrima Jobe (brown cap) a successful newspaper vendor and the only deaf vendor amongst his colleagues, “I have now got a job and can take care of myself. I do not beg for my living.”
8th May 2008
Alimamo Touray another deaf member, a carver at his successful stall at Brikama Craft Market
From the Female Wing......
Some of the Skill Students that are happily going about their work at the newly opened Female Wing.
6th May 2008
Baby naming ceremony
After marrying in November 2006 Lamin Badjie and Amie Sabally, who are both deaf, were blessed with a baby boy in March 2008. Here they are at the naming ceremony for their son Ebrima Badjie, on 26th April 2008 at Glocester Street Banjul. Amongst the guests were Miss Sukai Joof, Mr. Sheriffo Kanteh and friends and family. Congratulations to the Badje / Sabally family.
GADHOH Members Abroad....
Mr. Lamin Jaiteh (former GADHOH artist) his wife Anthae, and a young girl. In the back row are Miss Maggi Azzi, Miss Mariama Sosseh,and Miss Fatoumata Sissohore (GADHOH President in 2004). They now live in
Meet the Students at Gambia Technical Training Institute ......
Here are seven happy students that are learning various skills at the Gambia Technical Training Institute. Up to 2006, there were no deaf students at the Institute but with Awareness training and the provision of interpreter services by GADHOH, there are now twelve students studying there.
21st April 2008 outside GADHOH HQ offices.
New HQ Building
We are almost there..... The new HQ building should be finished within the next few months, with The Grand Opening ceremony taking place on 12th November 2008. More details will follow when finalised.
April 2008
GADHOH fund raising committee
28th April 2008 - The Inaugural meeting was held at Head office in
18th March 2008 - The new head office for the Female wing has just been officially opened at Kanifing. The building exists of two wings: one for the nursery school with two classrooms, office and store and another one for the skills centre for deaf girls (15 +) with literacy room, workshop for sewing and knitting, a kitchen/cake bakery, an open kitchen (for making local dishes) and an open space for tie and dye and hairdressing. Toilets for children and adults, water and electricity connection, furniture and outside playing materials for the children have all been realised. A school bus has been donated by Salomons Hulpfonds.
The first nursery school for deaf children in The Gambia has now been realised.
This was only possible with the fantastic fund raising effort by the Dutch Foundation BUGANALA along with donations and \financial support of the Dutch Foundation NCDO (National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development) and Foundation to Build, of The Netherlands, who carried out the construction employing a group of deaf boys who had finished their education at St. John's School which was overseen by Mr. Cees IJsendoorn, the project coordinator.
The first stone was laid by Mrs. Marieke IJsendoorn, Chairperson of Foundation Bugnala on 3rd April 2007. There for the official opening she was delighted. “Our aim is to work for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals to see that every child has a right to education and access it,” she said.
Mrs. Isatou Sanyang, Director of the Female wing stated that this is the first branch to be established under GADHOH as a special interest group aimed at empowering the deaf children and women. This will mean they can provide a wide range of skills training to deaf children such as tie and dye, tailoring, soap making, sewing and needlework and sign.
Mr. Dodou Loum, Executive Director of GADHOH, stressed that there is a greater demand for skills training for deaf children in the country.
The looks on the delighted Deaf people said it all and everyone commended the Foundation Buganala, the donor and the contractor Foundation to Build and the workforce for a magnificent building and the Gambian government for allocating the land.
More photos are in the 2008 Photo page
Brikama Branch AGM
15th January 2008 - Brikama Branch held its first AGM at Brikama Youth Centre in Western Region. It is the first regional branch that has its own committee responsible for the day to day running of the branch. During the period August 2006 to August 2007 a nursery school for deaf children, Sign language class for deaf adults, home visits, the acquisition of a plot of land from the Governor’s office, and Brikama Area council and staff training, have been achieved by the branch.
