Deaf Awareness Day 2000

Deaf Awareness Day 2000
Every year Deaf Awareness Week is celebrated the last full week in September. This year for the first time, Cambodia held a Deaf Awareness Day, on Saturday, 23 September. It was organized by the Cambodian Disabled People's Organization and several other groups, including Maryknoll.

Friday, 22 September 2000

Deaf people from Sihanoukville arrive in Phnom Penh A contingent of deaf people from Sihanoukville, two hours south of Phnom Penh, drove here to the capital for Saturday's demonstration. 14 of them rode in one pick-up truck! We met them at the office of the American Friends Service Committee. Only six people had said they were coming so when fourteen got out of the truck, it was quite a surprise for the local organizers.

Deaf people at dinner Sharon and David Rohe, AFSC's project coordinators in Sihanoukville, planned the expedition to Phnom Penh, including a dinner for all--and me!--at a waterfront restaurant. For some of the deaf people, it was probably their first time to come to the capital Phnom Penh.

Saturday, 23 September 2000

The Preparation

Several hours before the march was to begin, deaf people began gathering at the offices of the Cambodian Disabled People's Organization (CDPO). Here some of the girls who were doing a traditional Khmer dance as part of the ceremony have make-up applied by their friends. Making up the girls for the dances

We had both very young and very old marchers ready to walk with us from the CDPO offices along Sihanouk Street to the park near Wat Botum. Here some elderly ladies wait. Note how one wears the khrama (scarf) looped over her shoulder and under her arm in a very traditional way. Some of the older deaf marchers

The organizers for this first Cambodian Deaf Awareness Day were hoping for 300 deaf people to make the march along one of Phnom Penh's busiest streets. Groups from several provinces came to CDPO to join in. Watching the final preparations for the march

The out-of-town deaf people stayed at various guest houses around town with different NGOs picking up the (minimal) bill. Part of my job was to go around with Maryknoll's Land Rover and pick up some of these deaf people and bring them to the march's starting point. Picking up some of the deaf people at a hotel

The March and Program

dEAF PEOPle marching in street The day's program started off with a march by about 200 deaf people from the CDPO offices to a park near Wat Botum which is beside the royal palace. The march was well-organized, and I was surprised how cooperative the traffic was.

Putting up displays about deafness Both the CDPO and an AFSC program in Sihanoukville brought along display panels which they set up near the stage.

Deaf people signing the national anthem Here a large group of young deaf men sign the Cambodian national anthem. My biggest criticism of the program in the park was that there wasn't enough presentation by the deaf people themselves.

Deaf dancers A group of five young deaf women did a traditional dance as part of the welcoming ceremony.

A ministry official as the guest of honor An official from the Ministry of Social Welfare was invited as the guest of honor for the program in the park.

Deaf people Here a group of deaf people in the audience show their appreciation for one of the speakers. Deaf people wave their hands, a visual symbol, rather than clap to show appreciation.

Bystanders coming to watch the show Quite a few passers-by came to watch the show, especially the later sections which featured singers and stand-up comedians.

The masters of ceremony for the program Two people--I never found out who they were--served as MCs for the ceremony, introducing all the different elements of the program.

	A contingent of deaf people from Sihanoukville, two hours south of Phnom Penh, drove here to the capital for Saturday's demonstration. 14 of them rode in one pick-up truck! We met them at the office of the American Friends Service Committee. Only six people had said they were coming so when fourteen got out of the truck, it was quite a surprise for the local organizers.
	Sharon and David Rohe, AFSC's project coordinators in Sihanoukville, planned the expedition to Phnom Penh, including a dinner for all--and me!--at a waterfront restaurant. For some of the deaf people, it was probably their first time to come to the capital Phnom Penh.

Several hours before the march was to begin, deaf people began gathering at the offices of the Cambodian Disabled People's Organization (CDPO). Here some of the girls who were doing a traditional Khmer dance as part of the ceremony have make-up applied by their friends.
We had both very young and very old marchers ready to walk with us from the CDPO offices along Sihanouk Street to the park near Wat Botum. Here some elderly ladies wait. Note how one wears the khrama (scarf) looped over her shoulder and under her arm in a very traditional way.
The organizers for this first Cambodian Deaf Awareness Day were hoping for 300 deaf people to make the march along one of Phnom Penh's busiest streets. Groups from several provinces came to CDPO to join in.
The out-of-town deaf people stayed at various guest houses around town with different NGOs picking up the (minimal) bill. Part of my job was to go around with Maryknoll's Land Rover and pick up some of these deaf people and bring them to the march's starting point.

	The day's program started off with a march by about 200 deaf people from the CDPO offices to a park near Wat Botum which is beside the royal palace. The march was well-organized, and I was surprised how cooperative the traffic was.
	Both the CDPO and an AFSC program in Sihanoukville brought along display panels which they set up near the stage.
	Here a large group of young deaf men sign the Cambodian national anthem. My biggest criticism of the program in the park was that there wasn't enough presentation by the deaf people themselves.
	A group of five young deaf women did a traditional dance as part of the welcoming ceremony.
	An official from the Ministry of Social Welfare was invited as the guest of honor for the program in the park.
	Here a group of deaf people in the audience show their appreciation for one of the speakers. Deaf people wave their hands, a visual symbol, rather than clap to show appreciation.
	Quite a few passers-by came to watch the show, especially the later sections which featured singers and stand-up comedians.
	Two people--I never found out who they were--served as MCs for the ceremony, introducing all the different elements of the program.