On the occasion of International Sign Language Day, Vijay Social Welfare Society and the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension (DLLE) conducted a workshop titled “Spreading Smiles Through Signs” in collaboration with Mrs. Geeta Bhatia Sharma. The aim of this workshop was to promote the importance of Indian Sign Language.
Many people in our country who suffer from deafness face communication challenges, even with their parents and family members. With the use and awareness of Indian Sign Language (ISL), these circumstances can change. VSWS aims to help all those underprivileged women and kids who belong to the deaf community by promoting Indian Sign Language and creating awareness about it.
Mrs. Geeta Bhatia started her own initiative, “ANNUKARMA,” to bridge the gap between the hearing impaired and the hearing society. She advocates for the Indian government to recognize Indian Sign Language as part of the Indian languages so it can be used in universities and schools as a medium of teaching and learning.
Over 60 participants, ranging from youngsters to the elderly, interacted in this session. Mrs. Geeta Bhatia began with the basics, such as alphabets and greetings. With a little revision in between, she then taught us how to introduce ourselves and family members, ask someone about their day, inquire about food, and other basic interactions in Indian Sign Language. The session, with its interactions, suddenly became intriguing and informative. The session was attended by more than 70 participants. After the worthy session, Mrs. Geeta took her leave and promised us another informative and interactive session soon.
International Literacy Day is an annual international commemoration observed on September 8th, established by UNESCO on October 26, 1966. Its goal is to emphasize the value of literacy to individuals, communities, and society. Vijay Social Welfare Society (VSWS) has worked to provide education to those in need through its program “Nanhi Udaan.”
VSWS has conducted numerous programs involving activities such as E-poster making, role-playing, and speech writing to raise awareness about education. The society also focuses on educating girls to promote and create awareness about “women’s education.” This year, to bridge the education gap, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared that International Literacy Day 2021 will be held under the theme “Literacy for a Human-Centred Recovery: Narrowing the Digital Divide.”
Together, let’s promote literacy through this new approach to digital learning.