Highlights .........here are some notes from the meeting and final report.
Prior to 2004, the Deaf community was highly critical of the individual interpreters who were only thinking about making money. Instead the deaf asked for higher quality in interpreters. The deaf felt exploited. From here emerged a need for training of interpreters. The curriculum began to be developed.
There is competition between interpreters about the same jobs. Interpreters are working alone and in isolation.
Interpreters have their specific area, which they protect and work in.
There is a need for fieldwork around the country to collect the sign used in the different regions in order to develop and expand Kenyan sign language.
There have been interpreters trained in Nordic countries, but when they returned to Kenya, they did not sharing the knowledge they achieved. There is lack of cooperation between Deaf community (consumers) and interpreters (service providers)
Many deaf people have problems with interpreters. One problem is that many Deaf are lowly paid and can’t afford fee for interpreters. There are also problems with educational levels between interpreters and deaf that creates difficulties with communication.
In 2007, Deaf Aid, a Norwegian NGO with a strong country presence in Kenya, sponsored the first writing workshop held in Nairobi (Rosa Mystica conference centre). All major stakeholders were represented, including the Ministry of Education, KIE, KNAD and KSLRP. Representatives from Deaf Associations across the country also participated. The first draft was successfully negotiated through the KIE Course Panel.
On 8th and 9th May 2008, the KIE academic board was expected to review and make a decision on the final draft of the curriculum, after which it will be published.
KNEC is the proposed examiner and the trainers proposed are the current interpreters;
The curriculum is designed for the award of a Diploma in KSL Interpreting, after 2,880 hours of course work, and spread over two years.
The full Report will be availed soon
We are in the process of organizing for the first ever Interpreters Mentoring Workshop in August of 2008.
JaChair,
KSLIA
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