Tanzania Society for the Deaf (TSD) has got a new ED

Greetings from the Tanzania Society for the Deaf (TSD).

This is to bring to your attention and informed accordingly that the TSD has appointed Mr. Simeon C. Mwakatobe as Executive Director from 1st July, 2012 replacing Ms Matilda Ngonyani who has been retired. Mr. Simeon C. Mwakatobe he's a post lingual Deaf man. 

Mr Simeon C. Mwakatobe has been appointed after he won the vigorous process of application and  interview which was held on 14th, June, 2012. Mr. Simeon is very known much in the Disability sector in the Country, he's long experience and education in the field of organisation development and community development work, therefore hope fully will manage the TSD programmes.
 

TSD currently carry out the following programmes and activities.
1. Education for Deaf; Operated and own a Deaf & DeafBlind children school at Buguruni Malapa
2. Provide hearing aids to hearing impairment people
3. Vocational training to youths and Adults
5. Audiology examination to determine the hearing level for any person
6. Capacity building to Deaf people organisations
7. Influencing the organisation and the pright of Deaf people
8. Training in various disciplines
9. Meetings and conferences facilities to the general public

Our contact address;
Executive Director,
Tanzania Society for the Deaf, (TSD)
P.o. Box  4806, Dar Es Salaam - Tanzania
Email  bsdeaf@yahoo.com
Tel: +255 22 2864295
Mob: +255 715 071 934 (Sms & Text messages only)

Sincerely yours

N'nyapule Madai
TSD board Chairman.

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TUMA DANDI

TUMA DANDI, 38 years, married, journalist, physical disability

I was born in Kigoma region, Kasulu district, where in I got my primary and secondary education. In 1994 I got a traffic accident which completely affected my spinal cord. My legs remained partially paralyzed and I have been using a wheelchair in all life aspects for 18 years now.

After the accident I was admitted to the KCMC hospital in Kilimanjaro for one year. My family and relatives have been taking care of me for all this time and then got disappointed and tired. I was forced to struggle alone. Since I got my impairment at an adult age I faced a lot of challenges; psychologically and socially. Even things I used to do I found myself I couldn’t do them anymore.

I can say that it was very difficult to reach the point where I am now. A disability life is surrounded by  lot of challenges, it needs you to be patient. A disabled person is not a burden as we think, the person just needs to use his remaining functioning body parts as well as possible. Like me I have remained with arms, eyes, brain, head and desires so I use what I have in meeting my goals. I have even forgotten about having legs! Of course I am just a human being and I regret my accident sometimes, but what can I do – I encourage myself and keep going.

After staying at home for one year I went back to school where I repeated Form Four at Pugu high school and then went to the advanced level in Kilimanjaro. After there I joined the college, then I joined Tanzania School of Journalism at a certificate level. After completing my studies the challenge was how to get job! Previously I was discouraged by relatives that I have to stay at home since there are lots of people who are educated with degrees but yet do not have jobs, what about me a disabled person? But you know human beings can’t be God and everything happens for a reason. Maybe I got disabled so as to express God’s graces and I can see such graces are prevailing to me. Up to this moment I am educated with a Bachelor Degree in Mass communication, Diploma in secretariat, and Certificate in Journalism, so I am also good in computers to some extent.

I am employed by the University of Dar es salaam as a journalist and radio programs planner. I have been working with radio for nine years now. Before I was employed in Arusha by one radio known as Sunrise but I worked there for only two weeks and quitted my job due to accessibility reasons. The office was situated upstairs and it was difficult for me to access it. At the beginning I got support from some workers and people who used to carry me up but as days went on they got tired and started to escape from me, then I found there is no reason for me to remain there. After staying home for three months I got another job and I am here at Mlimani Radio as programs coordinator and also Radio and TV presenter. I have programs concerning PWD’s.

I am married; It’s true that I faced some obstacles in my marriage process. The relatives from my wife’s side were reluctant for their sister to get married to a disabled person. I can’t blame them because they do not have an education concerning PWDs. But currently they understand and they are relatives and good friends of mine. I have educated them to take my situation as a normal thing since being disabled does not mean that I can’t do anything. I have eyes, arms, eyes, and brain which makes me function in a productive manner to the extent of exceeding those who are not disabled. After seeing that life goes well between me and their daughter, they are now regretting their previous attitudes and I have forgiven them all.

My dream was to become a geologist and to work with mineral companies.  I came to realize that the nature of such profession requires a person who can walk and I can’t. So I had to change my vision from science to arts where I studied English, geography and history, that’s why you find me as a journalist today though I have a dream of becoming an administrator one day.

Through journalism I got different successes and achievements such as being popular and working with international media companies like Dutch well (DW) radio in Germany for one year. I was also awarded as the best journalist in reporting health issues and for competent news reporting (by Media Council of Tanzania). This year I am expecting to be awarded as a best PWD’s issues reporter, the event will take place this evening (30^th March 2012). {He made it }. I have also managed to create friendships with people from different levels of life and socio-economic status.

I appreciate your coming today because there are few people who are interested in researching about PWD’s issues - what they always do is to report on unreliable statistics. For example you may find some people saying that PWD’s are not educated without saying to what extent! It is true that many of them are not educated, but also there are some educated PWD’s who can perform and produce good results, like me.

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JOYCE JOSEPH MKATENDE

Joyce Joseph Mkatende, 30 years, single, working at Wonder Welders, physical disability

My name is Joyce Joseph Mkatende. I was born in Mtwara Masasi Makanyama and I am Mmakua by tribe. I have a disability of my right leg.

My relations to my family members are all normal and amicable to me. I don’t feel rejected as I was born disabled, therefore I don’t regret nor feel indifferent as it is no one’s fault. I happily accept what and how I am.

I would be happy to see the government  doing something for the disabled - getting them employment or setting up a system whereby the disabled can employ themselves according to their skills. Otherwise most organizations have the tendency not to employ the disabled people.

My dream was to get employment and I was able to get one on the condition that I should know how to use computer. I need somebody to support me on my daily transport expenses and house rent. I am advising all disabled not to be complacent with the situation they are in, rather they should struggle to the heights and to the ordinary people I advise them to see the disabled as ordinary people.

I am not familiar with any law relating to disabled people.

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ROBERT MALUGU

ROBERT MALUGU, 34 years, student, physical disability

My name is Robert Malugu, I was born in Dodoma and I am the first born. My family told me that I was born physically fit / without disability but in my childhood before I started primary school I got polio. In 1986 I broke my right leg when I was playing with my school mate, at that time I was in standard one.

When I was a kid my fellow kids laughed at me, told me that I cannot run like them and they nicknamed me babu (grandfather) because I used to walk with a stick. As I grew up I came to realise that there is no need to fight back - I had to accept the way I am and tell them the truth about what happened to me. In this way we became friends and we were playing together.

One of our neighbours, who used to laugh at my mother for giving birth to a disabled child, eventually gave birth to an abnormal child herself. I am not happy with what happened to her but this was a lesson to her and the community - we should not laugh at disabled people or discriminate them - rather we have to give support, encourage them and realise that they can do things like us and their contributions to the community are valuable.

I thank God that I managed to reach up to form six although I did not do well at form six level. I had to repeat and joined university of Dar es Salaam. I am studying for a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration now and I will graduate this year (2012).

At the beginning I used to blame people and government for not paying more attention and supporting me, but after reading books and participating in different workshops I came to realise that I should not blame anyone . I am the one who needs to change my life and make strategies to achieve my goals. Once I take full responsibility for my life, the community will appreciate my efforts and will support me.

My great expectation is to become an international entrepreneur although at the moment I do not have a big capital; I will work hard after finishing my studies in order to achieve my goals. I do believe that I can raise my capital through bank loans, my personal income, support from community, organizations and government etc.

My relationship with my family is good and we live peacefully because we respect each other and they have accepted me as part of the family.

I am happy with my life but to some extent I am not happy because of the support I am using to walk with. When it needs replacement and I do not have money this makes me feel uncomfortable and I am afraid because anything can happen on the way. For example, one day the support was broken and I had to take a taxi to my place. Thanks God on that day I had money, imagine if I did not have what could have happened.

I do not know much about the law and rights of disabled people but I know the one which says that 2% of working places in every company or organisation should be given to people with disabilities - but this does not happen.

I think what is important is to accept the way I am and make more effort to deal with life. Some people may be physically fit but do not have money and some can be disabled and be wealthy. Nowadays the community has changed - some accept disabled people but some don’t. I am requesting the community to accept us the way we are and give us support because I can have a disability on my leg but my brain is normal and I can do wonders mentally compared to someone who might not have a disability. If the community accepts us as the way we are I do believe we can cooperate together and come up with good things.

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