Our Young Deaffest Ambassador Alex Nowak tells us about his first week in Sri Lanka!
“Upon arrival at the airport, I met my deaf friend Kasun after a year away and straight away was picking up the Sri Lankan Sign Language very quickly. We bussed straight to Matara city – the humidity, people asking me “if I have a wife?” and chaotic bus journeys with loud music – it felt like I hadn’t been away at all.
I’m staying a Kasun’s house in Dondra, a few miles east of Matara city. There’s a lighthouse in Dondra – it’s a famous landmark as it marks the southern most point of Sri Lanka. It’s said to be the highest lighthouse in Asia. Nearby is a lovely sandy beach which is lovely for evening relaxation. 
On Monday I visited Rohana Specialist School again (I taught at this school last year) and it was lovely to see all the students and staff again after so long. I had a meeting with the principal, Mr Abeygunawardana, to discuss when and what I’d be teaching at the school. I’m starting in a few days time.
After the arrangements with the principal, I headed to a music festival — not the British kind at all. Just a simple one with the main singer being a blind lady, a group of drummers and a boy dressed as a lady flaunting about on the stage.
On Wednesday, the sponsors of Sumaga Ruhunu Circle of the Deaf (Marks and Spencer being the main sponsor) came to visit the organization and see how things are developing and discuss future arrangements. My friend, Kasun, is the president of the organization. The firm provides support to deaf people in the southern province of Sri Lanka. Collecting hearing aids to give to deaf Sri Lankan’s who are in need of them is one of the projects I’m supporting Kasun with through the organization.
I headed up the coast to Dikwella on Saturday and had a huge catch up with my deaf friend, Nsusanha, who works as a lifeguard at the Dikwella Resort and Spa Hotel — stay here if you ever go to Sri Lanka.
So, after 7 days in Sri Lanka, and not forgetting the following: seeing a dead snake, getting cramped on the buses, sitting on the toilet and seeing a huge cockroache and a hairy spider creeping towards me… It’s all good!”
Giuseppe Giuranna – The Visual Vernacular Maestro
Internationally acclaimed Visual Vernacular expert Giuseppe Giuranna, “The V V Maestro” will be bringing his magnificent skills to Deaffest 2014 with a package of workshops and performances throughout the festival weekend, 16 – 18 May.
Deaffest launched its V V project back in 2012 with an open stage performance event, following up in 2013 with the UK V V competition.
Now, for the first time at Deaffest, Italian born Giuseppe Giuranna will be coaching V V skills at the Deaffest workshops to be held on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May.
You will also get a chance to see him in action when he performs on the main stage at Deaffest during the evening’s entertainment on Saturday 17.
To register your name for the workshops email Deaffest Coordinator Jackie Law
And keep a look out for further details coming soon!
This year Deaffest will be promoting a charity which provides hearing aids for deaf children and adults in Sri Lanka.
The charity is run by the Sumaga Ruhuna Circle of the Deaf in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.
Alex Nowak, our Young Deaffest Ambassador is supporting the charity. He says: “I will be collecting as many hearing aids as I possibly can to give to deaf children and adults in Sri Lanka.
In the UK, deaf people get hearing aids for free from the NHS, in Sri Lanka they don’t have the same provision.
Sri Lanka hearing aids are still monologue style and therefore any hearing aids we provide will be very beneficial to them and be a positive impact on the Sri Lankan deaf community.
With your hearing aids, they will have more access society and job opportunities. In example, deaf people in Sri Lanka are not allowed to drive unless they wear hearing aids”.
If you would like to help out you can do so easily – we will be providing a bucket at Deaffest where you can donate your old or unwanted hearing aids. All you have to do is remember to bring them along!
Deaffest 