Dr. Caroline Smith, an ACU staff member, celebrates with a recent graduate.
AUSTRALIA, New Zealand and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, together with the Australian Catholic University (ACU) celebrated the completion of the Iumi Tugeda Helpim Solomon Islands Def Comiuniti Project on Monday 29 January 2024. The project concluded with a graduation ceremony for 37 participants from San Isidro, West Malaita, and Guadalcanal communities. The graduates were awarded a Certificate in Teaching and Learning (Sign Language).
The Iumi Tugeda Helpim Solomon Islands Def Comiuniti Project, implemented by ACU and funded by Australia and New Zealand through the Education Sector Support Program (ESSP), aims to encourage inclusion and understanding by teaching and promoting sign language skills for both hearing and hearing-impaired people in communities.
The course developed the skills of the graduates to teach sign language in schools and communities, with the aim of increasing participation of hearing-impaired people in education and community activities. The 37 graduates are now certified sign language trainers and will use their new skills in their communities.
Jackson Meke, ACU’s in-country project lead, expressed that the project’s deaf participants were now armed with newfound sign language skills and could experience a heightened sense of belonging within their families and communities.
New Zealand and Australia remain committed to working closely with the Government of Solomon Islands to ensure that all children, regardless of ability, have access to a quality education.
Story & photos : ESSP PRESS
