deaf christian fellowship
CCW supports deaf Christians in Bujumbura, who are normally marginalized in our Burundian society. We visit them regularly in their fellowship activities, comfort them and assist them if they have critical needs. Their energy and strenght is a blessing to us all!
Relevance:
Deaf people feel isolated, despised and overlooked in the Burundian society. Many of them face serious challenges such as unemployment and lack of education and life in very poor conditions. Their critical situation is based on the traditional beliefs of our society, which regard handicapped persons as incapable. It is very important to change this mindset so that deaf people can become equal members of our society and have the chance to contribute to it.
The Christians among the deaf people in Bujumbura are compelled to initiate their own congregation, as they are not integrated within local churches. CCW regards it as a crucial task to support these deaf Christians.
Deaf people feel isolated, despised and overlooked in the Burundian society. Many of them face serious challenges such as unemployment and lack of education and life in very poor conditions. Their critical situation is based on the traditional beliefs of our society, which regard handicapped persons as incapable. It is very important to change this mindset so that deaf people can become equal members of our society and have the chance to contribute to it.
The Christians among the deaf people in Bujumbura are compelled to initiate their own congregation, as they are not integrated within local churches. CCW regards it as a crucial task to support these deaf Christians.
Activities & objectives:
Since April 2013 it has become a regular activity for CCW staff to visit and comfort the Deaf Christians Fellowship in Bujumbura. Since they do not have their own church, they often assemble at a local school. We are usually able to follow the fellowship because some of them are able to interpret the preaching for us. They are always very welcoming and it is really an exciting experience to worship together with them.
If CCW receives donations that are targeted at deaf people we visit them in order to get to know about their needs. We then provide them with the needed items, such as clothes, education material, etc. Although these may be very basic items, they deaf people really appreciate any form of assistance.
It is one of our aims to sensitize them on the importance to get integrated within local churches so that they can relate with other Christians.
Since April 2013 it has become a regular activity for CCW staff to visit and comfort the Deaf Christians Fellowship in Bujumbura. Since they do not have their own church, they often assemble at a local school. We are usually able to follow the fellowship because some of them are able to interpret the preaching for us. They are always very welcoming and it is really an exciting experience to worship together with them.
If CCW receives donations that are targeted at deaf people we visit them in order to get to know about their needs. We then provide them with the needed items, such as clothes, education material, etc. Although these may be very basic items, they deaf people really appreciate any form of assistance.
It is one of our aims to sensitize them on the importance to get integrated within local churches so that they can relate with other Christians.
Videos from our fellowship with deaf Christians:
Pictures from our fellowship with deaf Christians:
Achievements:
We were very glad when missionaries Hazel and Ruth visited the deaf Christians when they came to Burundi in April 2013. They spend an afternoon with them, took lunch together and shared the Good news for Easter. Such visits are always very encouraging for the deaf people!
In June 2013 we were able to support one of the deaf Youth from Bujumbura called Moses to attend an international Deaf Youth summit organized by International Deaf Education, Advocacy and Leadership. It took place in Kampala, Uganda. The summit on 17th-24th June united deaf youths from the East African Community to identify and foster their leadership skills necessary to gain access to education and employment opportunities.
When Bujumbura experienced heavy floods in February 2014, some of the deaf people, who live in poor suburbs of Bujumbura, were severely affected. Some of their houses were flooded or damaged so that they had had to leave their homes and move to a temporary camp. Thanks to the generous contributions from Ruth and Susan from Open Hands Ministries, CCW was able to distribute to them fees to hire a house, food, bibles and school materials. We could thus show them that they are not alone and have genuine supporters.