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FM
Former Member
Peace Corps Volunteers Teach in Sign Language

5 October 2011
Source - All Africa

Washington — Peace Corps volunteers in Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya and Bulgaria are using sign language to conduct classes in science, social studies, creative arts and life skills for hearing-impaired students.

"Speaking to teachers and the principal, I helped them realize that the only thing that deaf people cannot do is hear, and they are capable of doing everything a hearing individual can," said Peace Corps/Jamaica volunteer Megan Hicks, who worked as a freelance sign language interpreter before her Peace Corps service.

In an October 3 press release, the Peace Corps highlighted the work of hearing-impaired Peace Corps volunteers, and returned hearing-impaired volunteers recently spoke about their service at the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington. (Watch the video on Peace Corps' YouTube Channel.)

In Guyana, Peace Corps Response volunteer Allen Neece of Arlington, Virginia, has been working since February 2011 teaching sign language and HIV/AIDS awareness classes to hearing-impaired teachers. In addition, he is revising standard school curricula to be appropriate for deaf students.

Neece, who is hearing impaired, also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, where he taught and advocated for the deaf community. He got his assignment in Guyana through Peace Corps Response, which gives returned Peace Corps volunteers the chance to take on short-term, high-impact assignments in various programs around the world.

Also in Guyana, volunteer Jillian Johnson of Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, is teaching an American Sign Language class at a special needs school and recently developed and conducted a spelling bee competition in American Sign Language. Jillian also facilitated a weeklong summer camp for disabled students in July 2011.

In Jamaica, Peace Corps volunteer Megan Hicks of South Lake Tahoe, California, is working in a school with 43 hearing-impaired students aged 3 to 13. She teaches classes at the school and holds sign language classes for the general public. She also helped create a school library.

Since arriving in Kenya in October 2010, Peace Corps volunteer Alan Kawamura of Garden Grove, California, has worked as a deaf education teacher in a school in western Kenya with students aged 3 to 21. He teaches Kenyan sign language, science, social studies, creative arts and life skills classes. Kawamura graduated in 2009 from California State University, Northridge, with a degree in deaf studies.

Peace Corps/Kenya began a deaf education program in 1992 for volunteers to give hearing-impaired students the same standard of education as their peers. Volunteers teach students and teachers Kenyan Sign Language and incorporate health and HIV/AIDS awareness into lesson plans. Peace Corps/Kenya currently has 16 deaf education volunteers and four math and science volunteers who are teaching hearing-impaired secondary school children.

In Bulgaria, Peace Corps volunteer Kathleen James of Sharpsburg, Georgia, will be teaching five hearing-impaired children in her local community using the Picture Exchange Communication System, which uses pictures to help children communicate.

President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, by executive order. Throughout 2011, Peace Corps is commemorating 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world.

Historically, more than 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries.

Today, 8,655 volunteers are working with local communities in 76 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. They commit to serve for 27 months.

For more information, see the Peace Corps website.
quote:

In Guyana, Peace Corps Response volunteer Allen Neece of Arlington, Virginia, has been working since February 2011 teaching sign language and HIV/AIDS awareness classes to hearing-impaired teachers. In addition, he is revising standard school curricula to be appropriate for deaf students.

Neece, who is hearing impaired, also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, where he taught and advocated for the deaf community. He got his assignment in Guyana through Peace Corps Response, which gives returned Peace Corps volunteers the chance to take on short-term, high-impact assignments in various programs around the world.

Also in Guyana, volunteer Jillian Johnson of Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, is teaching an American Sign Language class at a special needs school and recently developed and conducted a spelling bee competition in American Sign Language. Jillian also facilitated a weeklong summer camp for disabled students in July 2011.

FM

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