ParáPaz Foundation promotes free sign language courses and strengthens social inclusion in Pará
The sign language courses and inclusive actions of the ParáPaz Foundation have already reached hundreds of people, strengthening communication, citizenship, and the protagonism of the deaf community in the state
The ParáPaz Foundation has encouraged the learning of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras), promoting training courses in different municipalities of the state. The initiative aims to expand inclusion and ensure that more and more people can communicate more easily.
In Mocajuba, in northeastern Pará, the Integrated Unit of Social Inclusion ParáPaz has already qualified over 660 students, distributed among basic, intermediate, advanced, and also the Kids version, aimed at children.
According to the unit coordinator, Edilene Meireles, the course has stood out for the community's receptiveness and for creating a space that values the deaf population. "Today, they feel important for having a space that gives opportunities for other people to express themselves with them. We already have 24 classes formed and a very large waiting list," she stated.
Edilene emphasized that in July of this year, a computer workshop was offered specifically for deaf people. The expectation was for low attendance, but the spots were quickly filled.
The initiative also reached the Usina da Paz Castanhal, where two classes were completed, totaling 65 graduates. Among them is Cleane Ribeiro da Silva, who, even being fluent due to having a deaf brother, sought to improve her skills to enhance inclusive service.
"My biggest motivation was public service because I see up close the difficulties my brother faces due to the lack of communication. Although I am already fluent in Libras, I always seek to refresh my knowledge because it is a language that needs to be practiced constantly," Cleane reported.
At UsiPaz Benevides, the first Libras class has been underway since September, gathering 42 students under the guidance of teacher Amada Rayol. Some participants work in education, while others joined the course motivated by personal connections. This is the case of Marisete Santos Lima, aunt of a young deaf girl.
From an early age, she learned to communicate with her niece through signs they created together. But communication faced new challenges when her niece married a deaf man, and Marisete realized she could not maintain the same dialogue with him. It was then that the opportunity for qualification arose, and Marisete enrolled.
"I really wanted to learn to communicate with him because the way I spoke with my niece, he didn't understand. Today I can already make some signs, I am progressing, and the teacher has already given some exercises, and I can already see my progress. I don't like to miss any classes because I want to improve more and more," she shared.
In September, UsiPaz Guamá, in Belém, started the course "Libras for Public Service," aimed at those over 18 years old. The 25 spots offered were completely filled.
