Proverbs 31:8-9

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for
those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see
that they get justice. - Proverbs 31:8-9

The one thing that hits me and I'm sure will sink in even further once I get to the orphanage in Kenya, is how mistreated deaf people are in other countries.  The misconceptions that come with deafness lends itself to the destruction of lives, in various ways.

When I was in China in 2009, I got to see how oppressed the children were.  They were denied access to their natural language and it was shocking to see the expectations hearing adults had of them.  No one seemed to think they would ever be able to amount for much in life.  The deaf school we visited in Beijing would only employ deaf adults as Art or P.E. teachers.  Even then, they weren't allowed to sign with the children - oral method all the way, and from what I understood, they didn't even get the same pay and benefits as the other hearing teachers at the school did.

Deaf children in China are often left in the back rooms of their families' homes, stashed away from sight for the rest of their lives or until they're institutionalized.  Oftentimes, their families (as it is with any other persons with disabilities) will place them on the streets to gain sympathy from passersby...and get money.

In Africa, conditions for deaf children and adults aren't as good as it is for the deaf in China.

Minority groups experience oppression all over the world, no matter how "enlightened" the countries they live in are.  However, some of us just have it better than others.  While fighting for issues in our own countries are important, I'm not denying that, but there are some things one person is suited for that another might not be.  I'm fine with that.  America, for instance, needs people willing to fight for issues within the system, but it helps to look outside sometimes and see how others like us are doing in other countries.  We as deaf Americans have been fortunate enough to have access to good education (I'm not looking for an argument of what a "good education" constitutes of), the opportunity to develop leadership skills, and more.  This isn't quite as readily available to deaf people in other countries, some not at all. 

Because of this, we as Americans have the opportunity to pass on our leadership skills and empower others to try and make a difference in their countries AND honor their cultural traditions. Everybody can help in any way, whether it be donating to a cause or serving overseas as a missionary or in other organizations such as the Peace Corps or Habitat for Humanity.

I know that whenever I start to get frustrated with the cable going out in the middle of my favorite TV show during a storm, I'll think of the people who live without electricity and running water on a daily basis, of the people who worry about being beaten or killed for their deafness, of those who wonder if they'll starve to death because they can't get a job due to their deafness, of the people who never had  access to language, and more.

The world needs more allies.