Monday, 27 August 2007

KSLIA Statement

KSLIA would like to give an official statement on the issues therein.

It is the official position of the Kenyan Sign Language Interpreters Association (KSLIA) that the provision of quality and professional interpretation services is a right to all Deaf Kenyan community.

We believe that in Kenya as elsewhere in the world Interpreters are first normally Siblings, Parents, Friends, Colleagues, Neighbours or children of the Deaf - they naturally become the immediate available Interpreters thus many of the untrained, freelance and employed interpreters working in various settings throughout Kenya. They are leaders in delivering a very important service of interpretation in professional and community settings, including formal and informal settings and inclusion of these services in programs, projects and policy initiatives at local, regional, national and international levels.

In addition, all interpreters as members of KSLIA are leaders in facilitating and participating in research, training and documentation of interpretation profession in Kenya. In an era of increased opportunities for Deaf Kenyans to be involved in various professional, social and academic engagements, there is increased demand for the deployment of qualified and professional interpreters in fulfillment of the PWD Act 2003. Through the involvement and rigorous engagement of KSLIA in research, curriculum development, training, testing, certification and continuing education Kenya will be a beacon of interpretation excellence in this region and leading the way in empowering the Deaf community by giving equal access to information, education and communication for persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

KSLIA would like to reiterate its position on this blog and in public domain with this rallying call echoed by many before us in the Disability Movement - 'Nothing About Us Without Us!

We believe, as Mahatma Gandhi before us that “progress depends on not repeating the past and that, if we are to make progress, we must not repeat history but make new history.”

Chairman, KSLIA

Friday, 24 August 2007

cold war btw KSLIA and Deaf Aid (jean dickhead)

Jack the KSLIA Chair wrote:-

Dear All,

I would like to inform you all that due to pressure at my work place and priorities here and there, I am unable to represent KSLIA at the workshop. I would like to commend my colleagues Leonida and Vickie for stepping in on such short notice. I believe that both bring to the table over 25 years experience in Interpreting in Kenya. They both have done all sorts of Interpreting in hospitals, TV, conferences, courts, police, school, meetings, law, etc etc

I would like to bring your attention to the fact that these are landmark and key milestones in our country that should be given the at most care if we do the wrong thing we will be stuck with a curriculum that is not implementable and a waste of valuable resources we could have channeled to other useful venture.

World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) reiterated in the just concluded conference that Interpreter Training programs should be developed carefully involving the Deaf Users, Hearing organizations using Interpreters, relevant governement ministries and agencies, Deaf Associations and INTERPRETERS - TRAINED, UNTRAINED, CERTIFIED OR NOT.

WASLI also acknowledged that there are NO PERFECT INTERPRETER TRAINING PROGRAMS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. Training programs develop over time, as history has taught us this is often a long expensive process regardless of where it is taking place. We see this in the development of other professions like teaching, law, business....This profession is no different.

I would like to go into details of this BUT I will wait and receive the conclusion of this process, my one and only caution is we have a lifetime to live here in Kenya, to serve the Deaf community and create greater access to Deaf Kenyans. We cannot therefore be held ransom by time, resources or other priority like donor deadlines or reports to donors......it took KIE over 20 years to recognize KSL as a medium for instructions why should we want to accept and develop a curriculum for interpreting in 10 days? Interpreting is as important as Deaf Education and training of Doctors, lawyers, teachers we need to take our time and not rush to fill in schedules and report numbers and meet program objectives. Curriculum development needs to be based on gaps, needs identified, comparison of what is currently available and mistakes in the past. I am SHOCKED and DISMAYED that the KNAD - Kenyan National Association of the Deaf are NOT REPRESENTED IN THIS PROCESS.

KSLIA will continue to advocate for the inclusion of Interpreters and Deaf people in the development of trainings for interpreters and to comply with international standards as stipulated by WASLI and WFD where KSLIA has recently become a member. KSLIA therefore would support initiatives that will bring out the best for all - the Deaf Individuals, the Interpreters and the rest of the hearing community.

KSLIA will be represented in this forum and would like to get greater involvement in future forums as the stakeholders, custodians and owners of this profession. Interpreters have a role to be the drivers of this process - as an Interpreter and a User of Kenyan Sign Language I would like to be in the driving seat of this process - with due respect to professional curriculum developers at KIE or MOE I believe that only the people practicing in the profession (Interpreters) and consumers of the services(Deaf Kenyans and organizations working with the Deaf) are best placed to contribute to the development and implementation process of this sort of curriculum.

I hope that my comments do not deter your determination and good will - Deaf Kenyans need more than benevolence - Deaf Kenyans need empowerment, inclusion, accessibility to information and respect of their human rights which includes the availability of trained, professional and affordable Interpretation services. For Interpreters in Kenya,

Jack Owiti
KSLIA Chairman

==

The Reply.....Jean-Claude Adzalla wrote:

Dear Jack,

I do not have the habit to get involved in this email exchanges because I believe that serious stakeholders raise issues in a more appropriate forum.

This kind of public posting is a tool for lobby in order to create momentum around ones opinion that could be facing resistance. That said Jack, there is a lot of contradiction between your present mail and the previous ones. I will just like to mention two: In your email below to Kevin Warnke from Deaf Aid, you mentioned: "I would love to participate in this, 10 days is a long time to sit and write a curriculum in the short run".

Today you said "it took KIE over 20 years to recognize KSL as a medium for instructions why should we want to accept and develop a curriculum for interpreting in 10 days?"

Curriculum development is a technical process that the KRITD Project is ONLY facilitating, answering an outcry from leaders from the deaf community. I can remember Wango, the Director of KNAD emphasizing at the latest Deaf Aid advisory board on the need to fasten the KRITD process as defined in the "White Paper".

Have I mentioned that curriculum development is an important milestone of this process?

You also suggested that you were "SHOCKED and DISMAYED that the KNAD- Kenyan National Association of the Deaf are NOT REPRESENTED IN THIS PROCESS." Washington Akaranga from the Kenya Sign Language Project, the branch of KNAD in charge of sign language research and development is attending the workshop that opened yesterday.

In Kenya, only the Kenya Institute of Education is empowered to develop curriculum and they do have their rules concerning number of attendants, logistics and workplan.

The KRITD is only funding this process. I can recall a discussion I had with Dr Burch where he was suggesting that developing a curriculum in Kenya should not be a difficult task and there is no need to reinvent the wheel. WASLI had developed an international standard that could be used as guidance to expedite the process he further mentioned.

Projects, be it donor funded or not respond to the same constraints of limited resources and time frame. This one should not be an exception.

To conclude, I would like to say that time has come to chose who we want to be, the kind of impact we want to make, to be recognized and respected stakeholders or to be mere polemist.

Stakeholders discuss issues and in a progressive way and find together avenues to solve problems.

These clarifications were important to me and it will not be necessary to mention that I will not respond to any further public email.

Deaf Aid has identified KSLIA as an important stakeholder and has involved your organization in many activities we are conducting.

One thing is to always victimize oneself crying for more involvement. Maybe theright thing to do could be to attend the various meeting you have been invited to and or appoint in a due time, instead of a last minute phone call, representatives of KSLIA to be there to represent your organization.

Jean-Claude

==

JEAN NOT REALISE HE BIG DICKHEAD HE NEED TO GO BACK TO TOGO EVEN HE THINK RIGHT MAYBE BUT WE DONOT WANT HIM DICKHEAD STAY.

Letter from Nickson Kakiri chair of gdc kenya

LEAK! LEAK! LETTER FROM JOEL'S BOSS IN KENYA (NICKSON KAKIRI) TO KENYA GDC BOARD

Hey everyone,

I understand GDC has a new Executive Director, I just want to let you know .

Also , this time if GDC come to work in Kenya , do not accept oral agreements, let them sign patnership agreement, enough is enough.

They have to pay not free, It is sad that Kevin [LONG] used to get $54,000 for his salary but not willing to work with deaf Kenyans or having office in Kenya to pay Deaf staff.

Watch out some foreigners are good others are just coming to Kenya to start projects without signing agreement papers to employ Deaf Kenyans to run the project. They are just trying to make money for themselves because they cant find jobs in their own countries. Watch out for them and have them signed papers with lawyers seeing, if you have lawyers.

They must listen to the needs of deaf Kenyans not tell Deaf Kenyans what to do.

Hope you advise others to be careful too, I have documents here showing how much money GDC got , I will share with you you all in June.

Thanks


Nickson Kakiri

more on KNAD

MZEE BUBU GOT THIS:

(THEY ARE CALLING FOR WANGO TO RESIGN)

So please announce a meeting and hand over your resignation.

You know Kenya National Association of the Deaf

 Has 11 affiliated branches

 Currently facing serious financial problems

 The office is currently closed but rent paid by Sweden for your work.

 A lot of capacity building is needed

 All projects are not going on well.

 Membership has gone down

 Lack of transparency by leaders

Saturday, 18 August 2007

Global Deaf Connection

REVIEW TIME!

Can MZEE BUBU readers please tell MZEE BUBU what you think of Global Deaf Connection and Joel Runnels?

Happy?

Good work for Deaf Kenya?

Nothing?

Not happy?

More?

Less?

Get Out?

Wednesday, 15 August 2007

Workshop for Deaf Teachers in Kisumu

MZEE BUBU GOT THIS:

Two weeks ago two people (Dr Peter Oracha of Maseno University & Donna Harrison, a hearing mzungu from Seattle, USA) did the training workshop for deaf teachers and hearing teachers working in deaf schools. It was funded by Joel Runnels of Global Deaf Connection. There were 11 deaf primary teachers and approx. 20 hearing secondary teachers (one 2ndary teacher was deaf: Fred Kangu)

Dr. Peter Oracha talked about deaf education (history) in Kenya, talking in details about bilingualism and IEPs (Individualized Education Programme). Donna Harrison taught the deaf teachers on how to use visual aids i.e. drawings and cartoons etc.

Donna Harrison is a freelance interpreter in Portland, Oregen (USA) - more details about her at: http://www.signingtraveler.com/

Dr Oracha's CV at: http://www.maseno.ac.ke/departments/education/special%20needs%20educ/Dr.%20ORACHA.htm

100th Post on Mzee Bubu so far!

MZEE BUBU HAPPY ANNOUNCE NOW THIS POST 100th POST ON MZEE BUBU BLOG.

WOW

MZEE BUBU VERY HAPPY.

Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Progressive Talk, please, Progressive Talk please!

MZEE BUBU GOT THAT COMMENT WHERE THIS COMMENT BOX - HE LIKE IT HE DECIDE PUBLISH IT.

MZEE BUBU AGREE YES YES THAT MZEE BUBU BLOG = DEAF KENYANS TALK TOGETHER ONE PAGE. MZEE BUBU is 80% KENYA DEAF, 15% NEWS ABOUT KENYA DEAF, 5% MYSELF

SEE GOOD LETTER BELOW FROM WHO? MZEE BUBU DUNNA WHO? THANK STRANGER

==

Many of you think Mzee Bubu is Jack, Nickson, Omondi or Aggrey.....well you are all wrong. I feel sorry you abuse each other on this blog as if it is these people who are controlling this blog....sadly they are not.

This blog is the voice of Kenyan Deaf complaining and having free speech.

I would like to commmend the following Kenyans for standing out even in the mudslinging......

Nickson Kakiri - Despite his many falws has been able to come back to Kenya after graduating in the US. It is difficult for him to have a 8-5 job because Kenyans can't pay for him and an interpreter. Though he has been able to get short consultancy work here and there. He is better than those bootlicking and begging for donor money and worshiping the mzungus.

Mzee Pter Wango though labled as corrupt, polygamous and good for nothing. I would like to disagree. From the letters here you all can see that this man is selfless. He is looking out for you all as Deaf kenyans. He went to WFD to represent Kenya, pleading for Rsesa to remain here, for continued support for KNAD etc etc Please do not forget too quickly the work he has done with the TSC, Constitution review and HIV/AIDS awareness. Do not judge too quickly.

Jack Owiti the hearing interpreter and fluent KSL signer. Not many people know him for who he is. He has been in the Deaf community few years BUT watching him the other day in Spain advocating for the recognition of KSLIA, advocating for the training and qualification of Interpreters I am suprised that some Deaf people are lashing out on him. We all know his work at DOOR, Peace Corps and currently he is hidding not fully involved in the Deaf work. To me I would say he is one of the few advocates the Deaf in Kenya have for the success and recognition of KSL and interpretation. Watch out this young man will revolutionize Kenyan Deaf community. I marvel at his ease in mingling with the Deaf and the hearing - Kenyna Deaf peopl he is your link to change. He too is troubled by the usual peoblems we all have so he is no angel.

Josephine Kalunda - I admire her passion for politics and I am a supporter that she gets full into politics.

Susan Mugwe a very resiliant woman. I admire her courage and ability to bounce back.

KSLRP trainers - I support tis group of dedicated Kenyans working to bridge the hearing deaf gap. Dennis, Fransicscah, Petronila, Isabel, Washington, Mweri and Prof Okoth. Truly Kenyan at heart I love you people!!!!

LVCT for the Deaf in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu....I am blessed to know you all. Opiyo, Mumbi, Susan, Silvanus, I cannot remember all the names BUT I love what you are doing. God Bless you!@!

Deaf Churches and their pastors.....I love the fellowships and the opportunity to be in these congrigations.

Deaf Teachers in Deaf schools across the country you shape our future we are forever greatful for you work!

Parents of Deaf - We love you all. Kenya needs you all to arise and fight for your sons and daughter No more silence.

To my Deaf kenayn colleagues. Let there be the love unity and peace that we look for. I am being helped to say this to you in proper English for all to read and understand. Many of you think the world is not reading this. Shock on you the world is keenly watching Kenya.

PLease Mzee Bubu Publish this we need some progressive talk here.

thanks

Friend of the Deaf in Kenya.

Peace Corps Standardize Our Language?!?

Peace Corps Volunteers Standardize Kenyan Sign Language and Distribute First Sign Language Poster

NAIROBI, KENYA - June 26, 2007 - Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter today concludes his five day visit to Kenya where he met with Peace Corps Volunteers, staff, media, and government officials. Since 1965, more than 5,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Kenya. Currently, 134 Volunteers are working here in the areas of education, small business development, and health and HIV/AIDS prevention. Director Tschetter (lft) observing students in the new computer lab built by the Peace Corps at the Kerugoya School for the Deaf. Peace Corps

In a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannenberger and Kenya's Minister of Education George Saitoti, Tschetter said, "The Peace Corps program in Kenya remains strong. I am impressed with the many wonderful achievements of the Volunteers here and look forward to continuing to develop our partnership with the people of Kenya long into the future."

Ambassador Rannenberger also commented, "The relationship between the United States and Kenya is stronger than ever and the Peace Corps is an important and positive component of that partnership."

A highlight of Tschetter's trip was a visit on June 25 to a school for Deaf children (Kerugoya School for the Deaf) in Central Province where Peace Corps Volunteer Erin Hayba, of Lovettsville, Va., and a recent graduate of Penn State University, serves. Erin is among 29 Volunteers currently serving in Deaf education in Kenya, one of two Peace Corps deaf education program countries.

This unique program began in 1992 as a way to train educators on better teaching methods, and to broaden the production of learning materials and facilities for Deaf and hard of hearing students. The program now includes computer training and health and HIV/AIDS education programs, as part of the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief.

At the school, Tschetter observed several role playing exercises, educational videos featuring Deaf students, and other visual aids that the Volunteers have developed, including Kenya's first uniform sign language poster, the "Easy to Learn Sign Language Poster." Peace Corps Volunteers Frank Lester (lft) and Sam Roberts display a poster showing the new Kenyan standardized sign language.

Peace Corps Volunteers Sam Roberts, of Greensboro, N.C., and Frank Lester, of San Francisco, Calif., who is Deaf, worked with other Volunteers and Kenyan counterparts to standardize the sign language used in Kenya, called Kenyan Sign language and to develop the poster. This poster will be distributed to every Deaf household in Kenya in the next three months, and to hospitals and other facilities.

Annie Maina, the school's principals, said of the Peace Corps program, "It has improved the lives of many Deaf people in Kenya." She added, "Peace Corps Volunteers have made Deaf education more accessible and shown that a disability is not an inability."

Please visit our interactive Kenyan Sign Language website for details.

The Peace Corps is celebrating a 46-year legacy of service at home and abroad, and a 30-year high for Volunteers in the field. Since 1961, more than 187,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citiz.

FOUND AT:
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1226

Peace Corps' KSL website

Mzee Bubu,

have a look at the Peace Corps' KSL website

http://www.peacecorps.gov/ksl