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Brief History

St. Mark Deaf ministries is a community-based organization

that was initiated as a response to the great plight of persons with hearing impairments (hereafter to be referred to as Deaf persons). It was first and foremost intended to address the question of economic self-sustenance of Deaf persons but later extended its scope to include holistic development and general wellbeing of Deaf persons.
Having worked with Deaf persons in a primary school setting for a few years, I picked up on sign language and got to know more about the Deaf culture and lifestyle. As some of these persons grew up, we met in life and a good number of them could not afford many of the basic necessities of life. And this plight was the actual inspiration behind the beginning of st. Mark Deaf ministries.
St. Mark Deaf ministries received her first recognition on 09th February 2016 as a company limited by guarantee and later received the status of a community-based organization on 20th August 2020.
The world health organization estimates indicate that over 380 million people around the world have hearing impairments, with two thirds of these living in developing countries.

In a medically reviewed article, in Forbes health, on Deafness and hearing loss statistics, Jenifer Wirth reports that More than 1.5 billion people worldwide are currently affected by hearing loss in at least one ear. Then, Around 430 million people worldwide require rehabilitation for disabling hearing loss. Approximately 13% of adults ages 18 and older experience some difficulty hearing even when using a hearing aid.

And the world health organization estimates that nearly 2.5 (two point five) billion[1] people worldwide ─ or 1 in 4 people ─ will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050.According to the state minister for Gender, labor and social development, Uganda has an estimated population of 1,290,000[2] (one million, two hundred and ninety thousand) Deaf persons.

The majority of these Deaf persons live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate among the Deaf is so high and among these persons and communities of Deaf persons one finds inaccessibility to medical facilities, lowest levels of education, poor communication skills since a good number of Deaf persons have not learnt proper sign language. They lack adequate access to information, they have little, or no redress incase of need, little or no information to HIV-and related health issues and there are not many sign language interpretation services for them in many places, so access to social services gets very much limited and, in many instances, becomes impossible for them. Ultimately, it ends up manifesting for them as a case of exclusion or segregation, repression, and oppression against these persons.

AIM/PURPOSE

To empower persons with hearing impairments (Deaf persons) towards self-sustenance and holistic development.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

St. Mark Deaf Ministries came to light to see to the better evolvement and growth of Deaf persons towards self-sustenance and as an advocacy arm to further the cause for the rights and privileges due to these persons as persons.The great levels of unemployment, lack of access to information, and great incidence of illiteracy among Deaf persons coupled with neglect, abandonment, poor sensitization, poor self-image, low self-esteem, abuse, and several other inhuman living conditions prevalent among Deaf persons in the Ugandan society is what necessitated the inception of St. Mark Deaf ministries in order to remedy these, and related conditions among persons with hearing impairments.

 

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

In order to achieve the set goals, a few steps have been taken so far, and many others are under way:
Phase 1: Establishment of St. Mark Deaf Ministries
a. Registration of the organization.
b. Training of Sign language Interpreters
c. Advocacy for the rights of deaf persons.
d. Inception of the Deaf Music Festival for socialization, cultural, development, and self discovery.
e. Establishment of a parent association for or for persons with hearing impairments.
f. Establishment of an information desk for quick address and action.
Phase 2: Establishment of a Resource Center
a. Furthering the skill development and capacity building of persons with hearing impairments.
b. Offering employment opportunities in poultry, craft work, candles, shoemaking, and animal husbandry.
c. Inception of specialized counselling and guidance services for persons with hearing impairments.
d. Seeking partnerships with different organizations to better the situation of people with hearing impairments.
Phase 3: Growth and expansion of the scope of activities.
a. Growing and expansion of the poultry farm.
b. opening up a craft shop and showroom and finding a bigger market for products made by people with hearing impairments.
c. Formation of smaller groupings among the members for entrepreneurship and business undertakings.
Phase 4: Establishment of a permanent home for St. Mark Deaf ministries.
5. Present stage (CURRENT NEED)
a. We are currently looking for funds to increase capacity for handling the second phase of the poultry farm, craft work, candles, shoemaking, and animal husbandry.

OBJECTIVES

  1. To provide access to employment through the establishment of small cottage industries.
  2. To nurture the talents of Deaf people and enhance their social-psychological and personal growth and development.
  3. To provide skills suited for their economic growth and development.
  4. Advocacy: to sensitize the mainstream society on the Deaf culture and encourage them to acquire sign language.
  5. To provide access to information, including HIV, general health, and human hygiene.
  6. To train and avail interpreters to Deaf persons in several circumstances, such as hospital, police, church-related, etc.
  7. To facilitate the integration of deaf people into society.
  8. To advance the cause of education for the deaf child, due to the high prevalence of low education among this group of persons.
  9. To provide moral and emotional support to parents, guardians, and relatives of persons with hearing impairments.
  10.  

REMARKS

Although St. Mark Deaf ministries currently rents the premises under which it operates, and is greatly constrained financially, it has been a life-link to many people with hearing impairments. Below are among the achievements St. Mark Deaf Ministries prides herself in:

The Archdiocese of Kampala, then under the late Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, sought our services to work with persons with hearing impairments within the 5 administrative regions (districts) that fall under that archdiocese. (Kampala, Mpigi, Wakiso, Gomba, Butambala).

  1. A few of the persons with hearing impairments have been equipped with skills in candle making and craftwork and have earned some income.
  2. We trained sign language interpreters and had them certified by the Uganda Association for the Deaf. These offer interpretation services in both individual and group settings.
  3. Post-COVID pandemic period, St. Mark Deaf Ministries managed to offer food relief to over 153 families of persons with hearing impairments.

St. Mark Deaf Ministries has secured the education of some Deaf children. We held the first DEAF MUSIC FESTIVAL in Uganda. And it was on-going until it got interrupted in its 4th Edition by the covid pandemic. This festival encouraged the Deaf persons (PWHI) to come together, form social groups, unlock their creativity, and inspire each other to greater heights.

Different schools for the Deaf would gather and show their music and drama prowess!
Deaf people out of school would also gather and show case their talents… it was designed as a way of promoting the Deaf culture and also as a way through which Deaf people would show each other about their abilities.
The mainstream or ordinary society would join in awe and wonder at the great potential of deaf people.
From 153 Deaf Persons, who participated in the first edition of the Deaf Music Festival, it had more than doubled by the 4th edition! And it caught media attention—hence the more sensitization!

The best 3 groups from the Deaf Music Festival would receive a trophy and a monetary award, which was intended to support or kick-start investment projects for the winning teams and further their development.

St. Mark Deaf Ministries occasioned the organization of members into smaller groups through which they could come and socialize, share their stories, encourage, and motivate each other.

We have been invited to different schools for the Deaf to offer retreats and counselling services, such as Wakiso secondary school for the Deaf, Mulago schools for the Deaf and Bwanda school for the Deaf…

St. Mark Deaf Ministries has also seen to the marriage preparation of a few of its members. Being fully involved in preparation, fundraising, organization of the events , counselling of the couples, sign language interpretation, and all the coordination involved.

The Deaf Parents Association that was formed has been a beacon of hope and inspiration for several parents as they meet and share ideas and experiences on how to guide and nurture their children! They also offer moral and emotional support to one another amidst the poor publicity given about deafness.

Through partnership with St. Matia Mulumba of Kampala Parish, St. Mark Deaf Ministries secured a space for spiritual nourishment, socialization, and information access for persons with hearing impairments.

The organization is currently under the leadership of 4 board members, 4 co-opted persons for legal, accounting, counseling, and business development, and an 8-member council of executives.

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