ClaSH Namibia – engaged for children with language, speech, and hearing impairments
By Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. Today in our
struggle for inclusion of people with disabilities we talked to Heide Beinhauer
of the Namibian NGO ClaSH-Namibia
based in Windhoek and engaged for children with language, speech, and hearing
impairments.
struggle for inclusion of people with disabilities we talked to Heide Beinhauer
of the Namibian NGO ClaSH-Namibia
based in Windhoek and engaged for children with language, speech, and hearing
impairments.
Heide is a specialist teacher for hearing and speech impaired
children, arrived in Namibia in 1989. The plight of the country’s hearing
impaired children and the countless opportunities to start meaningful projects
became her calling! More than twenty years on, Heide co-founded CLaSH, became
its Education/Training Officer and is now Director of the organisation.
Would like to thank Heide so much for her answers and for the pictures she sent
us.
children, arrived in Namibia in 1989. The plight of the country’s hearing
impaired children and the countless opportunities to start meaningful projects
became her calling! More than twenty years on, Heide co-founded CLaSH, became
its Education/Training Officer and is now Director of the organisation.
Would like to thank Heide so much for her answers and for the pictures she sent
us.
ProMosaik stands for inclusion of people with disabilities and
struggles against their discrimination in society. It is essential to learn
about initiatives around the world to get new impulses to our all-day work.
struggles against their discrimination in society. It is essential to learn
about initiatives around the world to get new impulses to our all-day work.
For
further information you can visit the website of ClaSH www.clash-namibia.org and
the facebook page: CLASH Namibia. There are also two nice videos there.
further information you can visit the website of ClaSH www.clash-namibia.org and
the facebook page: CLASH Namibia. There are also two nice videos there.
How was CLASH founded?
CLaSH was founded in 1989 by a group of concerned parents and some
specialists in the field. CLaSH has grown from an innovative parents’ group to
a well-known and respected service provider.
specialists in the field. CLaSH has grown from an innovative parents’ group to
a well-known and respected service provider.
What are the main issues that the children that you assist need to
face within Namibia’s society? Is social exclusion a main problem?
face within Namibia’s society? Is social exclusion a main problem?
The main issue for the children that CLaSH supports is the lack of
early identification, the lack of early intervention and the lack of
specialists in the Government service, i.e. the public health care system.
early identification, the lack of early intervention and the lack of
specialists in the Government service, i.e. the public health care system.
Since the early years are missed, children with hearing loss do
not get the best start or the best foundation for their lives. Education at the
Schools for the Deaf could be better to offer more learners a fair chance to
reach their full potential.
not get the best start or the best foundation for their lives. Education at the
Schools for the Deaf could be better to offer more learners a fair chance to
reach their full potential.
Generally deaf learners do not have equal access to education and
training and therefore to the job market. They often do not finish school or
they fail their final exams. Then they end up stacking shelves in the
supermarkets instead of doing a job that would match their skills and
capabilities.
training and therefore to the job market. They often do not finish school or
they fail their final exams. Then they end up stacking shelves in the
supermarkets instead of doing a job that would match their skills and
capabilities.
Which kind of help do you offer to children?
CLaSH focusses on the early identification and early education of
children with hearing loss. CLaSH facilitates hearing tests for very young
children and offers guidance and counselling for parents and family members.
CLaSH runs the only specialised pre-school Unit for deaf children in Namibia.
CLaSH’s parents’ empowerment programme include home visits, parents meetings
and sign language classes.
children with hearing loss. CLaSH facilitates hearing tests for very young
children and offers guidance and counselling for parents and family members.
CLaSH runs the only specialised pre-school Unit for deaf children in Namibia.
CLaSH’s parents’ empowerment programme include home visits, parents meetings
and sign language classes.
For many years, CLaSH has conducted outreach programmes for the
screening of hearing in schools.
screening of hearing in schools.
CLaSH provides hearing aids to children, who are hard-of-hearing
and supports Inclusive Education where possible.
and supports Inclusive Education where possible.
CLaSH has also facilitated and organised 7 ear camps, where
learners with chronic middle ear infections and perforated ear drums were
operated by a team of German ENT surgeons.
learners with chronic middle ear infections and perforated ear drums were
operated by a team of German ENT surgeons.
What are the main features and purpose of the training that you
offer to parents and teachers?
offer to parents and teachers?
The
CLaSH training modules offered to parents, teachers and caregivers usually
focus on
CLaSH training modules offered to parents, teachers and caregivers usually
focus on
– Language
development and language stimulation
development and language stimulation
– The
ear and hearing problems
ear and hearing problems
– Communication
strategies for hearing impaired children and their parents
strategies for hearing impaired children and their parents
Do you cooperate with local authorities and institutions? If yes,
how?
how?
Yes, CLaSH cooperates mainly with 3 line Ministries: Health,
Education and Gender Equality & Child Welfare. We also work together with
international NGOs, e.g. UNICEF, local NGOs, who work for the well-being of
children and the Namibia National Association of the Deaf.
Education and Gender Equality & Child Welfare. We also work together with
international NGOs, e.g. UNICEF, local NGOs, who work for the well-being of
children and the Namibia National Association of the Deaf.
