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OPT: Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children enhances the scope of services delivery for deaf children and their families

Training of Trainer in Early Intervention of Deaf Children

A total of sixty-four hours of training-of-trainer (TOT) over a period of six weeks was conducted to develop the capacity of professional staff in deaf early intervention. The training was implemented by the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) as part of its EU-funded project titled "The Development of a Comprehensive Intervention Services Infrastructure and Active Advocacy Network for the Rights and Needs of Hearing Impaired and Deaf Children and their Families in the Gaza Strip."

The course was conducted at the ASDC building in Gaza City during June and July 2009. A total of 22 experienced teachers of the deaf and social workers from community-based rehabilitation (CBR) centers and from related ministries attended the training. The course aimed at developing the ability of the local NGOs' staff to conduct their own mother-child training courses and enhancing the scope of services delivery for deaf children and their families in the Gaza Strip.

According to the early intervention specialist, Mr. Naim Kabaja, "The sixty four training-hour Early Intervention Course is considered one of the largest training courses in the field of Early Intervention in the Gaza Strip." Mr. Kabaja added:" The TOT is a unique course since the training participants from variant local ministries and CBR centers working in the field of early childhood and serving deaf children. One more reason contributes to the training success is the trainees' immediate implementation of what they learn in their working environment."

Mr. Abdel Kader Nassar, a trainee in the TOT and an employee in the educational ministry, said: "During my twelve-year experience in the special education field and as a training evaluator, I can say that this course was very distinguished in many ways. For example, the course's educational curriculum has updated information, training methodology combines the theory and practical implementation, trainer experience, and attendance diversity" He added: "We ask ASDC to offer advanced TOT in early intervention."

This three-year project (2009 - 2011) is co-funded by the European Union (with a contribution of €380,000) and Christoffel-Blindenmission, Germany. Over three years, around 6,000 deaf and hearing impaired children, their families and communities in the Gaza Strip will benefit from the project activities and services.

The Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children (http://www.atfaluna.net) is a non-profit society established in the Gaza Strip in 1992. It aims at improving the quality of life of deaf children and adults and helping them reach their full potential by providing quality education, health care, social services, and work opportunities.

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For more information, please contact:
Randa Abukumail - Atfaluna PR Manager
Telefaxes: + 972-8-2828495 or 2865468
This project is co-funded by the European Union