(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center is to offer courses in sign language to both Al Jazeera staff and outsiders, officials have announced.
The announcement was made by Ahmad Al Saqatri, Deputy Managing Director of Al Jazeera News Channel, to a gathering of persons with hearing impairment who had gathered from all over the Arab world to celebrate the international week of the deaf, at Doha Marriott Hotel.
The event was organised by Al Jazeera in partnership with Qatar Charity, under the theme 'The Deaf in the Arab World: Gaza a case study.'
At the event, Al Jazeera premiered its special episode 'Stronger than Words', telling the inspirational story of Gaza's deaf community, impaired in their everyday lives and especially vulnerable in times of violence € a group that feels the attacks rather than hearing them.
"This is a really exciting day for Al Jazeera - to host a forum and provide a platform completely dedicated to the deaf community in the Arab world, a group often marginalised, is something we are really proud of," said Al Saqatri.
The forum saw a lively discussion among the film's director, diverse members of the deaf community in the Arab world, and representatives of World Federation of the Deaf and other local and regional NGOs.
The forum showcased interesting projects and future initiatives aimed at the deaf community in the Arab world, especially those in Gaza struggling to cope with the aftermath of the recent war.
Several working papers on the deaf community were presented, including 'The role of the Arab media in relation to the deaf community', by Rawan Al Damen. a senior producer with Al Jazeera Media Network, and 'Social and economic impacts of deafness' by Dr Bassam Abu Hashish of Al Aqsa University in Palestine.
Al Jazeera has been raising awareness of the plight of the deaf community in the Arab world. It is the first Arab media outlet to offer bulletins in sign language and to publish the Arab world's first dictionary for the deaf, said Al Saqatri.
He said that throughout the week, Al Jazeera Arabic and its online platform (aljazeera.net) will do extensive coverage and report on deaf communities in Arab countries, focusing on the obstacles and challenges they face in their everyday lives. The Al Jazeera programme on deaf, called 'Stronger than Words', will be shown on Al Jazeera English on September 30.
Yousef bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Charity, said that their interest in such events stemmed from their belief in the necessity of collaboration and integration among organisations concerned with humanitarian affairs related to the deaf community.
Al Kuwari said that partnership with Al Jazeera was significant in raising awareness of the difficulties and challenges the deaf encounter in the Arab world.
Qatar Charity is considered the largest and oldest humanitarian organization in Qatar with 18 offices around the world. It has partnerships with a wide range of local, regional and global organizations and dedicates its programs to those with special needs in its quest to have a positive impact in their lives.
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