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Produced by Global Communities http://www.globalcommunities.org November 3rd, 2015
Presented by Green Fire Engineered Reclamation
Ana Heidy Ambrosio, a resident of Corn Island in Nicaragua, lived a life of isolation and marginalization until she was 15 years old. She was born deaf, and the other members of her family weren’t able to understand her special needs. Her inability to communicate with others made Ana a shy and unhappy girl.
The lack of educational opportunities for deaf people on Corn Island made Ana’s isolation even worse. Her family, trying to protect her, would keep her inside of the home.
But Ana’s life changed when her grandmother, Romelia Dixon, attended a Municipal Governance Program (MGP) workshop implemented by the partner organization FECONORI. The initiative seeks to increase citizen participation by People with Disabilities (PwD) and their organizations in order to improve efforts to advocate for disabled people’s rights. Ana’s grandmother found out during the workshop that the project would be providing the island’s first sign language courses.
This project, implemented by Global Communities as part of USAID’s MGP, represents the first initiative on Corn Island to provide support to PwD.
Ana was one of 24 deaf people that participated in the 15-day intensive sign language course. It was the first time in her life that she met other deaf people. The course had an immediate impact on Ana. She learned to communicate with others, her shyness faded away, and her humor and attitude have greatly improved. “I’ve changed because I feel more confident,” Ana said as she demonstrated the signs she now uses to communicate with those around her.
As they got to know each other better, the participants in the sign language course, with the support of MGP, decided to found a chapter of the National Association of Deaf Nicaraguans (ANSNIC) in Corn Island. Along with other PwDs, the members of ANSNIC began to learn about their rights as established by national and international law. Through the this project, the participants gained tools to help them more effectively advocate for recognition of their rights and strengthen their organizations.
Over the past 14 months, MGP worked with other PwDs, which led to the creation of the Association of People with Physical and Mobility Impairments (ADIFIM), the Organization of Blind Nicaraguans (OCN), and the Association of Mothers and Fathers of Disabled Children, “Los Pipitos.” These organizations are now advocating for public policies that address the needs of the disabled population.
Ana is a member of ANSNIC and is heavily involved in the organization’s activities. Along with her colleagues, she successfully petitioned the mayor’s office to provide a classroom for continued sign language classes. Since then, 24 people have been receiving sign language classes three times a week. The mayor’s office also agreed to provide a stipend for the sign language instructor.
Global Communities is an international non-profit organization that works closely with communities worldwide to bring about sustainable changes that improve the lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable. Development is not something we do for people; it is something we do with them. We believe that the people who understand their needs best are the people of the community itself.
We make a difference by engaging with communities, governments, the private sector and NGOs as partners for good – bringing together complementary strengths and shared responsibilities to work toward common goals. We envision a world where everyone has the freedom, means and ability to live and prosper with dignity.
Global Communities has existed for 60 years. Most recently we have been known as CHF International and, before that, the Cooperative Housing Foundation. We began in 1952 as the Foundation for Cooperative Housing.
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