Empower Deaf Women to Build a Business in Mexico

The 2016-17 school term is enthusiastically underway. Our new director, Fabiola Ruiz has been busy scheduling classes, developing curriculum, organizing Mexican Sign Language courses for families of our deaf students and others and also helping the faculty of EEE master new teaching skills. The Outreach Program under the guidance of Wendy Coulson, Consultant and with Fabiola representing the school has seen good results. It is their goal to get word out to surrounding communities that the school is open to help all children who are deaf or hearing impaired to receive a bi-lingual education in Mexican Sign Language and written Spanish. They have been visiting government and social service organizations, other schools, and have also given informative interviews on the radio. Already, after less than two short months, the program has brought three more young students to school. We know there are many more yet to be reached.

The Vocational Training Program has also created success over recent months empowering many more of our young people. Several students, both young women and men, worked part-time over the school summer break earning extra income and enhancing their skills in jewellery making and carpentry. They were apprenticed by local business owners and artisans, working in jewellery making studios and carpentry workshops. The carpentry students were also contracted by a US businessman to create maps of Texas using scroll saws and the students in the sewing program were asked to create handmade jewellery bags for a group from Kent State University in Ohio. Although these were both small orders, we are hopeful that they will be the beginning of something bigger for the future.  On another positive note, one of our older students, Jésus, was recently hired by a local business owner to work a few hours each day for a regular salary, balancing school and paid work.  He is joining an alumni of the school, Juan; both having learned the skill of wooden puzzle making using a scroll saw in EEE’s carpentry program. These two deaf young people are now fortunate to have a regular income to assist their families and to help pave their own way to more independent living; proof that the school’s vision can lead to success.

Thank you to all who continue to help empower young deaf students of Mexico through Global Giving.

Links:

• School's website