In the Kivu Annual Conference in the Episcopal Region of Eastern Congo, a significant step has been taken to strengthen the inclusiveness of deaf and hard-of-hearing people within the Christian community. Thanks to training in sign language, more than 30 deaf and mute people are now able to participate fully in religious services, an essential step towards their social and spiritual integration.
The initiative received financial support from UMCOR - the humanitarian arm of The United Methodist Church. The three-month training course has transformed the way the faithful practice their faith. Philippe Epanga, head of the program, is delighted with the results: "Today, they attend services without difficulty. It's a huge step forward for their inclusion.
Reverend DS Rigobert Mtaka, in charge of the Fizi district, welcomes this initiative, which offers deaf and hard-of-hearing people a unique opportunity to take part in religious celebrations.
“The aim is to enable them to live their faith without barriers. From now on, an interpreter will make it easier for them to understand the Sunday service,” explains Reverend Rigobert Mtaka, “Today, thanks to this initiative, many of them can follow the Sunday service with the help of an interpreter.”
For David Kusinza, sign language trainer, The United Methodist Church proves its commitment to all categories of the faithful. “It's a model church that takes concrete action to include deaf people. It's a source of pride,” he declares.
Touched by this approach, Kusinza himself decided to join the Church with his family and now works as an interpreter for these new believers.
The initiative doesn't stop there. Buoyed by its success, Philippe Epanga plans to extend the program to other districts, notably Tanganyika and Uvira, to enable even more deaf and hard-of-hearing people to practice their faith without hindrance.
Lolonga is Communicator of the Kivu Annual Conference.
