Ceremony to reward deaf people |11 October 2017
Melita Gilbert excels
Melita Gilbert has been declared the most outstanding deaf person for the year 2017 and she received her prizes during the launch of the International Week for the Deaf (IWD) in a special ceremony organised by the Association of People with Hearing Impairment (Aphi).
The ceremony took place recently at the Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps) office at Orion Mall.
Melita took part in Miss Deaf Africa 2015 where she clinched the second princess title. She also represented Seychelles in the Miss World Deaf pageant. In addition she followed training in spa therapy and currently she is working in a spa.
As prizes, she received R1000 from Aphi, a voucher worth R500 sponsored by the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) and a shield sponsored by Laser Pro.
“I did not expect to receive such award. I worked really hard and was helped by so many people to achieve my goals,” she said through her interpreter.
Others who received prizes for their hard work and devotion include Calvin (best trainee), Kirsty Ernesta (best female student), Mael Bacco (best male student), Heather Arnaud (best volunteer), Emma (best effort).
Teachers Shiren and Shana, as well as Debra Dogley and Anne Sophola were also rewarded.
The launch of IWD took place in the presence of the Minister for Health Jean-Paul Adam, the chairperson of Aphi Anita Gardner, principal secretary for social affairs Linda William-Melanie, among other guests.
The event was also an opportunity for Aphi to officially present the deaf centre project along with the launch of the deaf centre fund which will raise money for the centre.
IWD is commemorated through various activities (marches, debates, campaigns, exhibitions and meetings), and calls for the participation and involvement of stakeholders (families, peers, governmental bodies, professional sign language interpreters, disabled people’s organisations).
IWD is the only week in a year that sees highly concerted global advocacy to raise awareness about the deaf community at individual, community and governmental level. It is about gathering together, becoming united, and showing that unity to the rest of the world.
In Seychelles there are around 1000 deaf persons, but those individuals have great potential and amazing talents, despite their disability.
Launching IWD week Minister Adam thanked the Aphi for its hard work to allow the deaf persons to voice out their concern.
“I want to fully thank the association for such hard work, they have achieved so many successes for the past 13 years, and also there’s more accomplishments to be made. People with hearing impairment play a key role in our society, soon they will have their own deaf centre, which will be an enormous opportunity for them to develop their skills,” he said.
During the ceremony the manager of SFM Ltd, Lindy Marcel, donated a cheque for R13,000 to the Aphi deaf centre.
The Aphi has already received financial support for its deaf centre from Cable and Wireless (R39,000), Air Seychelles (R25,000) and the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R10,000).