KSLIA National Forum

KSLIA National Forum 2008

KENYA SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS’ ASSOCIATION - KSLIA
And

GLOBAL DEAF CONNECTION (KENYA)

with funding from

USAID

KSLIA NATIONAL FORUM

Highlights .........here are some notes from the meeting and final report.

Prior to 2004, the Deaf community was highly critical of the individual interpreters who were only thinking about making money. Instead the deaf asked for higher quality in interpreters. The deaf felt exploited. From here emerged a need for training of interpreters. The curriculum began to be developed.

There is competition between interpreters about the same jobs. Interpreters are working alone and in isolation.

Interpreters have their specific area, which they protect and work in.

There is a need for fieldwork around the country to collect the sign used in the different regions in order to develop and expand Kenyan sign language.

There have been interpreters trained in Nordic countries, but when they returned to Kenya, they did not sharing the knowledge they achieved. There is lack of cooperation between Deaf community (consumers) and interpreters (service providers)

Many deaf people have problems with interpreters. One problem is that many Deaf are lowly paid and can’t afford fee for interpreters. There are also problems with educational levels between interpreters and deaf that creates difficulties with communication.

In 2007, Deaf Aid, a Norwegian NGO with a strong country presence in Kenya, sponsored the first writing workshop held in Nairobi (Rosa Mystica conference centre). All major stakeholders were represented, including the Ministry of Education, KIE, KNAD and KSLRP. Representatives from Deaf Associations across the country also participated. The first draft was successfully negotiated through the KIE Course Panel.

On 8th and 9th May 2008, the KIE academic board was expected to review and make a decision on the final draft of the curriculum, after which it will be published.

KNEC is the proposed examiner and the trainers proposed are the current interpreters;

The curriculum is designed for the award of a Diploma in KSL Interpreting, after 2,880 hours of course work, and spread over two years.

The full Report will be availed soon

We are in the process of organizing for the first ever Interpreters Mentoring Workshop in August of 2008.

JaChair,
KSLIA

Jotes from the just concluded 2008 National Interps Forum

That was one bundle of FUN!!!!

Thank you all for showing up at the GDC sponsored national forum! it was great to hungout with everyone, the music, the dancing, the chatting and venting!!! I am still waiting for the final report to share with you.

Steve and Monica are working on the final report of the forum plus the photos.

Lets roll our sleeves and begin to WORK - As if we have not been working!!!!! you might be saying....BUT we have a million things to do, I invite you all to get working!

For more info on how you can be involved -

kslia_chairman@yahoo.com

we are on facebook too..... just search KSLIA or KSLIA forum

have a great Labor Day

JaChair!

NEW YEAR NEW THINGS

Dear Interp,

Welcome to the New Year 2008, our association activities began in slow motion mode for the better part of the first two months. We were affected by the political crisis of which all of you are aware of and had to cancel the National Forum for all Interps in Kenya.

Things are looking up and we are regaining calm and peace countrywide.

In this newness there are several new things we need to keep in mind.

1. National forum will definately happen in April/May
2. KSLIA quarterly meeting April/May
3. JKUAT is recruiting for a Diploma in Sign Language Course - please see press for details, you can also visit their Waiyaki Way town campus for more details.

Keep reading this postings, we are working on making it more appealing and relevant to your needs.

thanks,

Chairman