Activity Report > January - April 2004

January to april 2004, Activity report From "Family Care" Coimbatore, South India NEW TWO-WHEELERS: We were able to purchase two motorcycles for our full-time deaf instructors and teachers. This not only helps them in their transportation within the city but also makes them more mobile enabling them to be more efficient in their work and cover more areas. PANTOMIME SHOWS IN 5 DEAF SCHOOLS: Our deaf instructors also perform Pantomime shows in different schools and cities. The team called "Happy Hearts" perform shows covering themes such as traffic rules, public dos and don'ts, health and hygiene concepts, unity and team working etc., They were able to perform shows in deaf schools in 3 cities of South Tamilnadu and for a hearing audience of about 100. MARRIAGE COUNSELLING TRAINING: Our deaf women instructors are receiving training in counseling young girls and married women and cover different issues of relationship, marriage, sex, child birth and child training. As some of the deaf couples tend to have "hearing" children, we also offer them tips and ways to cope with and remove the communication barrier that they themselves had faced with their "hearing" parents. SELF EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM Our self- employment program helped financially sustain 3 families of our deaf instructors who besides being involved with our teaching program, are also involved in the marketing of educational materials in our region. This effort is very much enhancing their ability to relate to and work with the corporate world, plus help them to have greater financial expectations in their lives and improve their quality of living PRODUCTION AND PRINTING OF YEARLY ACTIVITY REPORT: We were able to print and publish a year-end for our English readers for 2003 at the beginning of February, 2004 highlighting the various activities and projects for 2003 and the goals for 2004. This publication also contains compilation of positive and motivating articles, quotes, poems and anecdotes. We are enclosing a copy of this publication with this report as it will give a clear picture of our activities and goals for this year. (the hard copy will be sent to you by surface mail) ATTENDING A NATIONAL CONFERENCE: 3 of our deaf instructors were able to participate in the "National Deaf Youth Conference" conducted by an organization called "The Deaf Way" in Delhi (North India) in a city about 10 hours away from our city of Coimbatore in South India. Deaf attendees participated from 20 cities of India. The Seminars and workshops were beneficial to the attendees and challenging as well. 3-DAY SOUTH INDIA REGIONAL CONFERENCE : Family Care conducted a 3-day regional Conference for deaf in Kodaikanal, in the mountains of South India from 11th -14th of March, 2004. Training Leaders of the deaf is our criterion and to help them be self-sufficient is our goal. "Leadership Training Seminars" are a regular feature by Family Care in Coimbatore, Palghat, Chennai, Hyderabad, Calicut and Madurai. We have also been organizing Seminars on a regional level inviting the leadership structure in each city for a few days of training and input. This is the third year that Family Care has organized "South Regional conference" for the deaf. About 35 deaf attendees from 7 different cities including Chennai, Mysore and Hyderabad were exposed to various classes assisting them in strengthening interpersonal relations and projects in their respective cities. Opening with a keynote on following through with counsel given to the deaf leaders, the classes moved on with very enthusiastic response through to a class called "Focus on the power" - teaching them to focus on the solutions rather than on the obstacles and problems. The classes then delved further into practical tips and suggestions that are applicable in our everyday lives and related to their lifestyle. Classes were conducted for about four to five hours a day and the evenings were slotted for physical recreation, group discussions and different fun-filled activities. The attendees also had the privilege of watching a movie called "Men of Honor" which brought out the principles of not giving up in life and fighting against all odds to become somebody and make it in life. Ending the 3-day Conference with a class on commitment and team working, a challenge was thrown out to all the attendees to "make a difference" in their communities. Certificates of participation were given out to the attendees at the closing ceremony. The boys in the troupe: Here are the boys in our Panthomime troupe "Happy Hearts" Performance 1: A skit on public do's and dont's, teaching young deaf children helpful habits. Performance 2: A skit on public do's and dont's, teaching young deaf children helpful habits. Performance 3: Tommy Getting ready for performance Performance 4: Tommy and David, identical twins that are both deaf getting ready for pantomime show. Performance 5: Our phantomime performers, Kanagaraj and Sumanth bringing out a message through their performance. Seminar 1: Here are attendees arriving at the venue Seminar 2: The closing ceremony held on 13th March 2004, at 7:00 p.m. Seminar 3: Here is our chief guest at the seminar, Mr Mani, a prominent member in the local community, giving a inspirational farewell talk to the attendees. He is joined by his wife Mrs: Mani and V.Jonsson, Project coordinator for Family Care. Seminar 4: Kanagaraj, Senior deaf instructor, Family Care signing the class, "Focus on the Power" during one of the sessions. Seminar 5: Mr: Suman, CEO of "Voice for the deaf", an organization working with the deaf in Chennai India and Mr: V.Jonsson of Family Care giving a lecture on "Leadership in action" Seminar 6: A time between classes to sign and discuss all that is being learned during the seminar. Seminar 7: Here are Manoj and Jayachitra a young and active deaf couple from Chennai. Seminar 8: Some of the girls that attended the seminar, from right, Rathipriya, Pravina, Ruby, Sumathi and Radha Seminar 9: A group photo of the attendees. Seminar 10: Mrs: Mani handing out certificates to the attendees Seminar 11: Mrs. Mani, wife of Mr. Mani, Kodai Dairies Ltd., Chief Guest giving away certificates of participation to attendees Seminar 12: Some of the happy attendees, From left, Mohan from Chennai, Raja from Chennai, Anjesh from Calicut, Johnsson from Hyderabhad, Manoj from Chennai and Raju form Hyderabhad Seminar 13: Mrs Rachel, our chief deaf instructor lighting the lamp of kuthuvillaku at the opening of the seminar, which is according to Indian tradition a sign of good will and blessing. Seminar 14: Mr. Victor, Project Director, Family Care, Coimbatore lighting the kuthuvilakku to inaugurate the three-day South Regional Conference for the Deaf at Kodaikanal in the presence of Mrs. Sandra Victor and Mrs. Renuka Rameshan, Family Care. Seminar 15: Symposium on "Commitment and Teamworking" by MrVictor, Family Care and Mr. Suman Chakravarthy, Voice to Deaf, Chennai