BY HENRY MAINA
CHAPEL SECRETARY

NAME : STRIVE DEAF CHAPEL

LOCATION: MOMBASA - KENYA

ADDRESS : P.O BOX 42153 - 80100

                   MOMBASA  -- KENYA

EMAIL : strivedeaf_club@yahoo.com

 

LEADERS: A KITSAO

                HENRY MAINA

                PAUL ASEKA

 CONTACT PRSON: HENRY MAINA

 FOUNDED 2005

REGISTERED: MARCH 2006

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP: 36

DEPARTMENTS : DEAF MINISTRY

                           BIBLE WORKERS

                           EDUCATION

                           COUNSELLING

STRIVE DEAF CHAPEL WAS FOUNDED IN 2005 AND REGISTERED IN MARCH 2006 BY THE FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE STRIVE DEAF CLUB.

 

THE REASONS BEHIND THE FORMATION OF THE CLUB WAS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT AFFECTS THE DEAF IN THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT, LACK OF ACCESSIBLE HEALTH SERVICES, RAISING CASES OF HIV/AIDS AMONG THE DEAF, LACK OF QUALITY EDUCATION AND LACK OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION SERVICES AMONG OTHER THINGS.

MOMBASA BEING A PORT CITY AND THE SECOND LARGES IN KENYA, AFTER NAIROBI IT IS VERY POPULATED AND ISLAM IS THE DOMINANT RELIGION. THIS CREATED A DILEMMA FOR DEAF CHRISTIANS.

WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF A CHAPEL OF THE DEAF WHERE DEAF PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS CAN COME TOGETHER AND WORSHIP TOGETHER.

THE CHAPEL IS LOCATED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MOMBASA TOWN BUT PLANS ARE UNDER WAY TO BRING IT TO A CENTRAL LOCATION EASILY ACCESSIBLE.

 

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STRIVE DEAF CHAPEL ARE:

- TO ADDRESS THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE DEAF POPULATION IN MOMBASA

- TO MAKE CHURCH SERVICES OF THE DEAF MORE EASY, ACCESSIBLE, AND ENJOYABLE BY USING THE LANGUAGE WHICH THEY CAN IDENTIFY WITH -ie SIGN LANGUAGE.

- TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE DEAF WHICH WE BELIEVE IS VERY ESSENTIAL. THIS IS DONE THRO THE HIV/AIDS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

WE COLLABORATE WITH OTHER HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS SUCH AS THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND VOLUNTARY COUNSELING AND TESTING CENTERS.

- TO COLLABORATE AND WORK WITH OTHER DEAF CHURCHES/ MINISTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

- TO ADVOCATE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION OF THE DEAF. WE WORK WITH SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF, PARENTS OF THE DEAF, TEACHERS OF THE DEAF AND THE GOVERNMENT SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

WE ALSO HAVE SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES  WHICH TARGETS :- .

      - PARENTS WITH DEAF CHILDREN

      - SOCIAL WORKERS - POLICE

                                       - NURSES

                                       - DOCTORS

                                       - etc

     - THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

     - SPOUSES WITH DEAF PARTNERS

WE ALSO HAVE A NURSERY SCHOOL AND BABY PLAY SCHOOL. IT TARGETS THE WORKING DEAF  PARENTS.

 

CHALLENGES

 

IN ORDER TO STAY FOCUSED ON OUR  CAUSE AND AIM, WE STRIVE TO FINANCE ALL OUR ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS.

THIS IS DONE THRO PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS, MONEY RAISED THRO TRAINING OF SIGN LANGUAGE AND NURSERY SCHOOLS.

HOWEVER WHEN WE HAVE A MAJOR PROJECT LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE NOW OF RELOCATING TO A LARGER AND MORE SPACIOUS HALL IN  TO HAVE ALL OUR OPERATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS UNDER ONE ROOF, WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MEET ALL OUR TARGETS / EXPECTATIONS.

 

CURRENT NEEDS.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RELOCATING TO A LARGER HALL WHICH WILL HOST OUR CHAPEL, OFFICES, NURSERY SCHOOL AND MEETING ROOMS.

THIS PROJECT IE ESTEEMED TO COST ABOUT 7800 USD.

WE HAVE SO FAR RAISED ABOUT 1000USD, 4 NEW PEWS AND SOME NURSERY SCHOOL  EQUIPMENTS.

 

WE ARE APPEALING TO FRIENDS AND DEAF MINISTRIES TO ASSIST US IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE OUR PROJECT BY THE END OF THIS MONTH SINCE IT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY AND ALMOST HALF COMPLETE.

 

LONG TERM GOALS.

 

TRAINING OF DEAF PASTORS AND BIBLE WORKERS EXPECTED TO START BY THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR.

COMPUTERISING ALL OUR OPERATIONS.