50 Deaf Children In Mexico Need Sign Language

After over a year of holding classes virtually, Spring holds the promise of re-opening to in-person learning at EEESMA. A target date of May 31st has been set. Teachers and staff received their shots against Covid-19 in early May and are feeling excited and confident to return together. On May 17th, Dia de los Maestros (Teachers Day) gave students and board members the opportunity to celebrate the amazing things EEEMSA teachers have accomplished despite the pandemic. Flowers for the ladies, chocolates for Diego and "Felicidades!" to each and every one of our wonderful teachers!

As a typically energetic and curious six-year-old, Jacobo attends primary school at EEESMA and is learning Mexican sign language for the first time in his young life. Jacobo and his family live in a rural community about an hour bus ride from school. When classes resume, he will rise at 6am with his mother and younger hearing sister to arrive at school at 8am, but he doesn’t mind because his eagerness to learn translates to a love of school. During his first few years, prior to Covid, integration to school was understandably a challenge for Jacobo because of his inability to communicate his needs. Learning sign language has changed that. He is now better able to participate in social activities, even online, and it will be a happy day for Jacobo when he can finally be back at school. 

It is with great pride we announce two young deaf women, Fernanda and Juanita, have successfully transitioned from the Vocational Training programs at school to a fulltime employment opportunity! May 11th was Fernanda’s and Juanita’s first day on the job at Fiaga, a retail clothing store which operates its own sewing workshop. Working together as a team, the young women will support each other as they face the challenges of employment in the hearing world, something very new and strange to them. The students continue to learn that deafness does not preclude them from pursuing their dreams and will certainly not hold them back. Please join us in wishing them success!