On June 12, 2025, the Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MANAD) attended the quarterly review workshop for the Able to Thrive project. The event, organized by World Vision, took place at Chikho Hotel in Mponela. Various stakeholders and implementing partners gathered to review progress and discuss key developments within the project.
Through the Able to Thrive project, MANAD, which focuses on Sign Language and Communication, conducted refresher sign language training sessions for parents, guardians, caregivers, and teachers in various districts such as Dowa, Ntchisi, Mzimba, Kasungu, and Dedza. These trainings aimed to enhance communication between the Deaf community and their immediate environments, promoting inclusive education and accessibility in different areas of life.
MANAD encountered several challenges during implementation. These included the remote locations of training venues, which required long travel times for participants and facilitators, as well as the limited time allocated for the training sessions, which lasted three days and was considered insufficient. This time constraint affected the ability to cover key sign language topics comprehensively, impacting communication development efforts.
During his presentation, MANAD’s Advocacy Chairperson, Mr. Sekerani Kufakwina, appealed to World Vision to consider these challenges in future programming. He emphasized the importance of allocating adequate time for sign language training sessions, orienting participants on World Vision’s policies, and equipping local facilitators with advanced training techniques.
Mr. Kufakwina expressed his gratitude to World Vision for implementing the Able to Thrive project, which is in strong alignment with MANAD’s mission to promote Malawian Sign Language and enhance Deaf education across the country. He highlighted the significant advancements that this initiative could facilitate, including:
• Promoting Malawi’s constitutional rights to equality, non-discrimination, and inclusion.
• Advancing the status and visibility of Malawian Sign Language.
• Improving access to essential services for Deaf individuals.
• Eliminating communication barriers in education and public service delivery.
• Raising public awareness and understanding of sign language.
• Strengthening frameworks for practical inclusive education.
The workshop was attended by a diverse group of partners and stakeholders, including the Malawi Union of the Blind (MUB), Malawi Against Physical Disability (MAP), Beit Cure, SandithaNdiza, Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA), Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA), the Ministry of Gender, Disability, Social Welfare and Elderly Affairs (Department of Disability), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, PFAM and ABC Audiology.
MANAD remains steadfast in its commitment to collaborate with all partners to ensure the full inclusion and empowerment of the Deaf community in Malawi.
The picture showing Mr. Kufakwina during his presentation at the “ABLE TO THRIVE” Project quarterly review workshop at Chikho Hotel in Mponela.
