Deaffest

The UK's leading Deaf Film & Arts Festival

April 3, 2014

Alex Nowak – Second Week in Sri Lanka

Alex is currently in his second week in Sri Lanka and has been updating us what he’s been up to!

Alex Nowak Sri Lanka 006

“When a plan is made in Sri Lanka – it does not mean that it’s set in stone. Thus meaning I will not be teaching at the school until after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (12 – 20 April), due to term exams taking place. This gave me time to focus on other projects this week:

It was Kasun’s birthday on Tuesday, so lots of bananas and sponge cake is eaten. We both headed to the nearby city of Galle to watch a sports day for disabled children from local schools. It was a great day seeing all the children and their parents having fun. Me and Kasun headed to the beach resort of Unawatuna in the evening, where I treated him to a huge English dinner – his birthday present!

On Thursday, we visited the hearing aid branch of Siemens in Matara city. A staff member checked the donated hearing aids I collected from my friends in England – out of 10, just 1 wasn’t working. We looked at the facilities and I learnt the following: In the past 2 years, they have sold approximately 50 hearing aids at the Matara office; the hearing aids are manufactured in Germany. They have approximately 10 hearing aids in stock. 1 new analogue hearing aid costs approximately £60 and 1 new digital hearing aid costs approximately £230. A pack of 6 batteries costs £2. After a quick discussion, the company is happy to accept donated hearing aids and give them to deaf people for free.

Alex Nowak Sri Lanka 005

Friday evening, we visited Kasun’s friend, an audiologist, at her home. She will be helping us on this hearing aid project. We discussed who exactly should have the first of the donated hearing aids – those who are in great need of them. We agreed that the deaf students who are in local mainstreams schools should. We are now making plans to visit these schools, where we give them a hearing test, followed by fitting hearing aids on them for the first time.

Popped over to Dikwella again on Saturday to see my mate Nsusanha and hit some waves. His birthday is in May and has asked me to go to his “massive beach party”. Invitation accepted!”

Posted by Deaffest on April 3, 2014 in NEWS.

Alex Nowak – First Week in Sri Lanka

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!”

Posted by Deaffest on April 3, 2014 in NEWS.

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

jackie@zebra-access.com

And keep a look out for further details coming soon!

Posted by Deaffest on April 2, 2014 in NEWS.