Panama Project Update

 

Blanche is a member of the Rotary Club of Bolton. She has spent her whole life wanting to be with kids. She spent 12 years with Deaf Exchange Students and worked twice in Rwanda with students and teachers of Africa. Blanche also went to Russia, she didn’t understand the language and couldn’t read it; that made her understand the frustrations of deaf students.

 

Blanche has just returned from a project in Panama. There is no education in Panama for anyone with a handicap. Going into this, she didn’t have a lot of money but thanks to the help of the Rotary Club. Blanche was floored to learn that there is no education in Panama for the deaf. Imagine what it’s like to spend your whole life with no understanding of what you are seeing. Blanche is used to be around the deaf and was accepted very quickly and, as well, she speaks Spanish. It was a good way to learn Spanish by doing sign language. If you have no words, you cannot think.  People think they are stupid as no one in their whole life has taught them anything. No one has ever asked them to think so they never have to think about why. Just imagine what it was like growing up under such circumstances. Blanche did a unit on why they cannot hear. It was fascinating for them.