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Making an impact through care: Outreach programme benefits Deaf community

08 September 2022 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin

Bartimea school outreach — Annemarie Le Roux and two of the learners from the Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind.

It was a perfect Spring Day with laughter, cupcakes, and the brightest smiles on excited little faces of learners from the Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind in front of the Main Building of the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). The UFS Department of Deaf Studies and South African Sign Language hosted the school on 1 September 2022 for a day of learning, fun, and lots of games to kickstart #DeafAwarenessMonth.

The relationship between the department and the school is stronger than ever, and after a two-year hiatus both staff and learners were basking in the excitement of the day. The school faced closure back in 2016 and it was in this year that the department and the student group Signals started a project to visit the school, which saw them participate in different activities with the learners. “We helped the school with the cleaning up of the school grounds and painting the playgrounds,” said Annemarie Le Roux, South African Sign Language lecturer at the UFS.

UFS could set blueprint for outreach to Deaf communities

The department and the UFS are in a unique position to set a blueprint for engaged scholarship with the Bartimea school in Thaba ’Nchu and the Thiboloha School for the Deaf and Blind in Phuthaditjhaba (formerly Qwaqwa).

The Bartimea outreach is an important project for the department because it not only enables the students to put their teachings into practice but also demonstrates the engaged scholarship mandate of the UFS. Le Roux believes more teachers should be able to use SASL in schools, and the UFS could facilitate such training opportunities. “It would be wonderful if the university and the school could work together in engaged teaching and learning.” She added that leaners at the two schools sometimes do not get all the information they need when applying to universities.

Le Roux thinks the relationship between Bartimea and the department could enable meaningful action to foster engaged citizenship. “We can help with fundraising, because the school is always in need of funding, as most parents cannot contribute to helping the school.”

Putting teaching excellence into practice

This engagement with Bartimea allows students to put what they have learned in lecture halls into practice. “Students who attend the visits to the school or the school to the university understand more about the culture, and want to learn more and develop their language skills,” Le Roux said. “Before the COVID-19 pandemic we took our third-year and honours students to the school to give them access to the Deaf community.” Furthermore, the engagement helps students gain a better understanding of Deaf culture and sign language.

Also visit our Deaf Awareness Month webpage for more information.

News Archive

Two Kovsies in Baby Boks group for U20 Championship

2017-05-12

Scrumhalf Rewan Kruger, left, and prop Kwenzo Blose, both
rugby players from the University of the Free State, will
soon be playing in their first and second Junior World
Tournament respectively.
Photo: SA Rugby

Although he will soon be playing in his first Junior World Cup, Rewan Kruger believes his experience of international rugby will help him succeed. Last year, the scrumhalf was part of the South African schools team playing in the U19 series against Italy, Wales, England, and France.
Kruger and prop Kwenzo Blose, who will be playing in his second World Tournament, are two players from the University of the Free State that were recently included in the final Baby Boks group of 28. The World Rugby U20 Championship will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia from 31 May to 18 June.

A taste of international rugby

The 19-year-old Kruger says it is hard to describe how thrilled he is about his inclusion. “The whole group of players were gathered in a room and the next moment the coach [Chean Roux] played a video on his computer, announcing the team that will be playing abroad.”
The former Grey College, Bloemfontein, pupil has already had a taste of international rugby. “I believe the experience I gained in the international U19 series will help me a lot in the upcoming U20 World Rugby Championship. I already have an idea of the pace of an international game.”

Team can improve on previous year

Blose, KovsieSport’s Junior Sportsman for 2016, says the South African U20 team could do better than the fourth place they got in Manchester, England in 2016. “South Africa is a strong rugby nation and we have set high standards for ourselves. Therefore, we will do our best to win the tournament. We have a great group and I believe we have the potential to win the trophy.”
The former lock from Glenwood High School, Durban, says it has helped his team to play practice matches against senior teams such as the Griquas. “The preparation was tough and I think it will benefit the team.”

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