History of Al-Waagah
We greet you with the universal greeting of Peace
Al-Waagah, formerly known as Oasis Deaf Society, was established in
July 1995.
Initially there were 10 registered Deaf Muslim members.
To date October 2009 we have approximately 200 registered students from
all over Cape Town. At our Madrasah there are a regular attendee tally
of ± 150 students.
History of Deaf Members
Prior to the establishment of an organization as Al-Waagah the Deaf
Muslim community was subject to the teachings of Christianity for over
100 years. That was the only means of education for the Deaf Muslim
community.
Objectives
The objectives of the organization are as follows:
- To provide a support structure for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in
the greater Western Cape.
- To provide Islamic Knowledge in Sign Language and Total
Communication
- To bridge the communication gap between the Deaf and Hearing
community
- To establish a fully fledged Center that will host a school, a
dormitory for out of town learners attending the school, recreation
hall, social and welfare and skills development and to have a structure
to host our aged in a conducive environment.
- To provide for early childhood development in Islam for the Deaf
and hard of hearing children.
- To intigrate the hearing into the world of the Deaf
Vision
The Vision of Al-Waagah is to empower all Muslims with hearing
disabilities, with the necessary knowledge and skills in order for them
to become happy, self sustaining, well balanced, confident, and
practicing Muslims. Coupled to that, also to try and integrate them into
society with the dignity and respect that each individual deserves. We
also strive to eliminate the negative stigmatism attached to the
language of the Deaf. Ultimately to establish a secular school for the
Deaf Muslims with Islamic ethos Inshallah.
Community Response
The organization is fortunate to have the following committed
businesses and individuals rendering a service by way of transport, they
are, Mr.N Ismail of Peoples Transport and Mr. M Davids of Wardrobe in
Wynberg. Collectively they provide the transport of over 120 learners to
and from Madrassah every week with no cost involved. These services
have been provided for since 1997 algamdulillah.
There are occasional donations that are received as well. Madrassah
fees from the learners are not compulsory, due to the socio-economic
background of most of our learners.
Three of the members of SANZAF that did the course of Sign Language
with us have not continued nor have they completed what is needed to
serve as in interpreter. They however will be able in a basic manner to
communicate with a Deaf person that is in need of the services that
SANZAF offers. We are continuously lobbying for organizations to send
their members to come and learn Sign Language.
Strengths
The Deaf membership is highly regarded as strength. Al Waagah the
organization is unique in services that they provide for the Deaf in the
language of their understanding Sign Language and verbal where needed.
Our teachers, assistants and other members are committed to provide
more than just Islamic teaching to the Deaf community.
Although Al-Waagah is not financially stable by any means the
teachers has to occasionally work without receiving any payments but
they carry on for the love and passion of the cause. What a remarkable
bunch of people.
The benevolence of the owners and staff of Peoples Transport that
provides us with 5 taxis, twice a day on a Sunday incoming and out
going. Mr. Mogamad Davids of Wardrobe in Wynberg that provides one
taxi. The above mentioned service providers does not want the
recognition but we feel they render a service that contributes to the
consistency of classes, and that is one of the major strengths of
AL-Waagah.
Weakness
Al-Waagah has the inability to sustain themselves financially due to
the lack of various resources.
Secondly the non interest community displays, primarily due to the
lack of verbal communication. The misconception that the Deaf are dumb
is a large contributing factor to the weakness.
Needs
The needs of Al-Waagah are as follows:
- Venue conducive to the above mentioned objectives and vision.
- Qualified teachers / Ulama that are capable of developing and
implementing a curriculum that will holistically benefit the Deaf
- Counselors that are able to use Sign Language
- Affiliation to ulamah body such as the Muslim Judicial Council
- Recognition and Support of the Community at large
Another area is that some of the Deaf community does not even know
their own language. That is largely contributed to the negative
stigmatism attached.
Once a month we bring in some experts in the different fields to show
our people the trades that are available in the working world. That is
our way of assisting the Deaf community in the search for a trade that
they can do for sustainability.
But how much can we do in less than three hours once a month and also
it takes up of the valuable Madrassah teaching time.
Our teachers are not “qualified teachers” they have made themselves
available and Allah makes them capable algamdulillah.
Since September of 2005 Algamdulillah we are using 4 classrooms at
the Campus of (IPSA). The International Peace University of South
Africa. For the first time since its inception Al-Waagah can operate as a
school Algamdulillah.
In 2006 we started Gadj classes for the Deaf started. We have 3
learners that have made Nieyah (intention) to go on Gadj in the near
future Insha-Allah.
The most recent project we have embarked on is to bring in hard of
hearing young learners and the ones who had the cochlear implants.
Focusing on the previously mentioned early childhood development in
Islam.
What seems unimportant for the hearing person make up the necessity
of the Deaf person.
In closing we would like to mention that we cannot see that this
miscommunication, misinterpretation misrepresentation and miss concept
continue in the future.
We sincerely hope that this information suffices for the purpose with
which it was intended, Inshallah.
Administrator