DeafBeat Community Outreach Program @ Laos Special Education School

THE PROBLEM

Eleven years ago, the Sisters of Charity opened the Special Education School of Luangprabang (Deaf School) in Luang Prabang for Deaf and Mute children in Luang Prabang that came from North Laos to provide them a proper education. Currently eighty (80) children from ages 7 to 20 are residents there. The school also has a three-year professional training program for the school’s older students. At the end of their formation, they aim to be skilled enough to be employed and be independant. As the young learn weaving, dressmaking, carpentry, catering and mechanic, a handicraft shop, a garage and a coffee place welcome visitors. Those social businesses are also complementary ressources, as the community intend to be self-sufficient

With the help of YMCA of Luang Prabang, the Special Education School of Luangprabang (Deaf School) in Luang Prabang would then like to build the opportunity to expand their horizons into music with the guidance and mentorship one of Asia’s long standing and well known Deaf Percussionist teams based in the YMCA of Kuala Lumpur, the DeafBeat

Currently the issues holding back the DeafBeat team to proceed with this program are transportation and stay costs as the team members consists of YMCA KL Members who are volunteers and staff eager to provide these expertise, guidance and resources to the school in Luang Prabang

We hope that you can help them build enough funds to travel and serve the Deaf school in Luang Prabang, with the hopes that the Deaf community there finds inspiration in life through music and sound

Thank you so much for your kind contributions

Please keep track of our updates by calling us at 03-22741439 or email us at ymcakl@ymcakl.com or to Ms Morley Ng, Pusat Majudiri 'Y' For The Deaf Secretary, morley@ymcakl.com.

THE SOLUTION

The DeafBeat Community Outreach Program with the Special Education School of Luangprabang (Deaf School) in Luang Prabang will be working in stages aimed

• To build the Deaf and Mute students’ confidence, self-esteem and ultimately be a self-reliant individual while having the ability to develop the social and leadership skills.
• To discover hidden talents through performance arts.
• To give encouragement to the parent(s) of the deaf students in the school in fellowship through camps, seminars, workshops, social recreational activities for the family and annual family camp to strengthen bonding amongst the families members.

STAGE ONE (Current Fundraising Campaign) .As an Outreach Program this stage requires Awareness/Immersion Sessions and Workshop Sessions. Before Arrival students and the school are encouraged to find means to aquire their own Chinese Drums (or similar) and include max. two (2) Hearing team members for every 15 students, to set the beginning of teamwork and determination to achieve this project together. Awareness/Immersion Sessions . Interactions are continued and exchanged between the DeafBeat team and Students on their national Deaf culture and language with 25 deaf students from age 12 – 18yrs old. DeafBeat has also agreed and prepared to perform a cultural exchange session where Laos student will give a special Laos dance performance in return. Workshop Sessions . Participation to musical understanding of the Chinese Drums through listening and/or techniques of feeling the vibrations from beating drums will be taught to familiarise students with the basics of reading musical notes and to encourage the making of creative patterns for playing and moving while performing on Chinese Drums.
 

Future Fundraising Campaign:
STAGE TWO . If a Mentorship Adoption Program is mutually agreed upon between both parties, potential leaders from particiants of Stage 1 will be identified to form a School Club / Program based on music, specifically drums (eg: Drumming Club). The school will form a drumming club set up by the Deaf percussionist which comprises of junior to adult. The objective is to create drumming as hobby and part of school activities for the students to be active in. DeafBeat will continue mentoring the Special Education School of Luangprabang (Deaf School) in Luang Prabang through online communication (eg: Skype, Google Meet, Zoom, etc.) at least once a fortnight until they are fully prepared to perform for corporate events or shows.

STAGE THREE . By the end of the Mentorship Adoption Program, the first generation of the Special Education School of Luangprabang (Deaf School) in Luang Prabang’s School Club / Program in music education (eg: Drumming Club), should be able to lead and expand the training, creative growth, administrative management and promotional areas of their program through a new generation of students and leaders. This is when the DeafBeat team will be able to step out of the program and consider it sustainably impactful and successful.

THE IMPACT

If successful Stage One of this Outreach and Mentorship Program will deeply immerse students from the Special Education School of Luangprabang (Deaf School) on the world of music and it’s potential even with a disability. With the objective to enrich, expand their musical horizons and inspire them with goals towards building and managing a team of Deaf and Mute musicians of their own in their school.

Goal Breakdown

Goal 1 - If RM15,000 is achieved by 1 December 2020: Transport & Cargo Expenses including Airfare will be paid for first. Amount Needed: MYRRM13,200.00

Goal 2 - If the next RM15,000 onwards is achieved by 1 Jan 2020: Stay Expenses will be covered for 10pax Team Members to volunteer at the school.. Amount Needed: MYRRM12,600.00

Goal 3 - and Outreach Program Expenses with students will be covered. . Amount Needed: MYRRM14,160.00

CONTRIBUTE TODAY TO THE DEAFBEAT OUTREACH IN LAOS. INSPIRE AND GUIDE THE DREAMS OF PASSIONATE DEAF TEENS FROM LUANG PRABANG, LAOS IN PURSUING MUSIC IN PERCUSSIONS!