Deaf children take aim with archery

Deaf children tried their hands at archery during a market day, at the Al-Wagaah Institute for the Deaf, in Bridgetown, on Sunday.

The Arrow Archery Club from Mitchell’s Plain was there to teach youngsters from the Dominican School for Deaf Children in Wynberg, and members of the public, how to use a bow and arrow.

Sherina Lagardien, a spokesman for Al-Wagaah, said they held the market day to break down communication barriers between the hearing and the deaf.

“We hope to grow a generation that is able to sign. There are a lot of challenges amongst deaf people, and because of that, many of them don't matriculate, and it can be very expensive if they go private.”

The children attend madressa classes at Al-Wagaah’s Petunia Street premises on Sundays. The non-profit organisation also teaches sign language to the public.

“Sign language is the 12th official language, but the government is not doing anything to teach people the language,” Ms Lagardien said. “We have eight taxis to pick up pupils every week and, like all other NPOs, we are struggling with funding.”

Nawaal Brown, the secretary of the archery club, said the sport relied on sight, not hearing, so it was ideal for the deaf.

“Archery is a very disciplined sport, which demands concentration. It is a sport that the deaf can do and enjoy,” he said.

According to Al-Wagaah’s chairman, Aleem Rawoot, it started 25 years ago when a group of imams decided to start an NPO to teach the deaf about Islam.