| Missionary teaches deaf Liberian children how to
communicate
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A Web-only image
An
estimated 20 percent of refugees in Liberia are hearing impaired. A
program called Hope for the Deaf offers communication classes.
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| A
program called Hope for the Deaf serves many people who have been
displaced due to the recent civil war in Liberia and refugees from
neighboring countries, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire. It is estimated
that about 20 percent of these people are hearing impaired. United
Methodist missionary David Worlobah leads communication classes in
Monrovia, Liberia’s capital. A UMNS Web-only image. Photo #W06-010.
Accompanies UMNS story #075. 2/9/06 |
Feb. 9, 2006
A UMNS Report
By Steve Smith*
David Worlobah penetrates a world without sound, where children who cannot
hear are social outcasts. His aim is to give them hope for better lives in which
they can communicate with each other — and with those people who can hear.
A United Methodist missionary, Worlobah teaches deaf children every
day in the hamlets and streets of Liberia's war-torn capital, Monrovia.
Many of the deaf children were abandoned on the streets by their parents
or orphaned from years of civil war.
In Liberia, where needs are many, teaching the deaf is a low priority, but
one Worlobah championed when he was assigned by the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries to the West African country. For many of his 47 students,
Worlobah’s teaching is the first formal education in their lives. After spending
two years in a one-room classroom building, he and his students have moved to a
bigger building with four classrooms, a bathroom and an office.
Worlobah said his students must know how to communicate if they are going to
survive in the hardscrabble country.
“This school was opened purposely to empower our unfortunate deaf brothers
and sisters by providing them with opportunities to develop their full potential
in order to lead a meaningful Christian life,” Worlobah said, in an e-mail from
Monrovia. “Supporting (the) deaf program in Liberia is a part of the mission of
the church. Developing the lives of the disabled is the work of the church of
Jesus Christ.
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A Web-only image
Neeko Dawasa, who is hearing impaired, shines shoes and takes classes to learn to communicate better.
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| Neeko
Dawasa, 21, shines shoes on the street in front of David Worlobah’s
classroom in Monrovia, Liberia. Dawasa spends part of his day earning
money to support himself and his brother, and part of it learning to
communicate better in Worlobah’s classes for the deaf. Worlobah is a
United Methodist missionary, and his Hope for the Deaf ministry is
supported by the churchwide Advance for Christ and His Church giving
program. A UMNS Web-only image. Photo #W06-011. Accompanies UMNS story
#075. 2/9/06 |
“Learning how to communicate will help the children in our society contribute
to the development of our society,” he said. “Communication is very important to
the development of any nation. If they can effectively communicate, they will be
able to share their own ideas and will be part of that development.”
Thanks to Worlobah’s Hope for the Deaf program, the children can express
themselves clearly in sign language, and they’re able to read and understand the
Bible. Worlobah said he worries about what will happen to this program as he
struggles on a bare-bones budget to make ends meet and make a difference to
those who might otherwise be forgotten.
Worlobah operates his school on a paltry $6,350, with materials, facilities,
maintenance, and recently $100 to help with teacher transportation from the
Liberia Annual Conference. His most critical needs are teacher pay, curriculum
development, teaching materials and transportation, he added.
“Our budget is very tight in that about 75 percent of what we need to do is
depending on the support of the budget,” Worlobah said. “Our floors are very,
very rough, no floor mat. Our building is made of concrete bricks and plank. We
are located at the ground floor. There are no desks in the classrooms and no
air-conditioning. We do not even have a fan.
“Most importantly, we are trusting God for a bigger place as our numbers keep
increasing.”
While never knowing whether the school will close, Worlobah said he looks to
his students as the reasons for why he endures the work and financial hardships.
“These are people who want to develop and give their hope ? to develop some
hope for the deaf,” Worlobah said.
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A Web-only image
United Methodist missionary David Worlobah teaches classes for the deaf in Monrovia.
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| United
Methodist missionary David Worlobah teaches classes for the deaf in
Monrovia, Liberia. His program, called Hope for the Deaf, serves many
hearing-impaired people who have been displaced due to Liberia’s recent
civil war or who are refugees from neighboring countries, Sierra Leone
and Cote d’Ivoire. A UMNS Web-only image. Photo #W06-012. Accompanies
UMNS story #075. 2/9/06 |
Scouring the neighborhood around the conference headquarters, Worlobah found
a dozen or so children who had never seen the inside of a school.
Neeko Dawasa, 21, was shining shoes on the street corner in front of
Worlobah’s classroom when the two met. Like many young people in this
desperately poor country, Dawasa spends part of his day earning money to support
himself and his brother, and the rest of his day learning to read and write from
Worlobah.
Before meeting Worlobah, Dawasa didn’t even know how to make change. In a
year’s time, he has learned that and more.
“School is good because I learn communication,” Dawasa said. “I learn signs.”
The Hope for the Deaf ministry is supported by the United Methodist Church’s
Advance for Christ and His Church giving program. Donations can be written to
Advance GCFA, designated for Hope for the Deaf, Advance #14365, and placed in
church offering plates or sent to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068 GPO, New York, NY
10087-9068. To donate by credit card, call (888) 252-6174.
*Smith is a freelance writer based in Dallas.
News media contact: Fran Coode Walsh, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5458 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Deaf School For Liberia: Communication skills change lives
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Resources
Health and Welfare Ministries
The Advance for Christ
UMCOR: Liberia
Country Profile: Liberia
Christ Church of the Deaf
National Black Deaf Advocates
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