Events

Animations for deaf children!

A sign language fairy tale?! There are few such fairy tales, right? And it's not just in Poland that they're lacking. Today, we will tell you about Jordan, where sign language translator Heba Jamjoum has started a YouTube channel with animations for deaf children!

Today, we’re taking a journey to Jordan. Heba Jamjoum, a Jordanian sign language interpreter, noticed the lack of Arabic educational materials for deaf children while she was pregnant. Five years later, together with her husband, they initiated the ‘Tameem and Reem‘ project, named after their own children, to teach sign language to Arab children. They publish cartoons on YouTube, aiding in sign language education.

Challenges Faced by Children with Disabilities in the Middle East

In the Middle East and North Africa region, numerous barriers hinder children with disabilities, including a lack of support in public schools, insufficient teacher training, and limited educational programs. Initiatives like the one created by Heba and her husband help alleviate these obstacles.

In Jordan, many children with disabilities are excluded from education, mainly due to negative parental attitudes and the absence of appropriate support in schools. Moreover, the Syrian war has particularly impacted children with disabilities, who are exposed to additional risks and require specialized educational materials and support.

‘Tameem and Reem’ – A Project for Deaf Children

The ‘Tameem and Reem’ project is the first of its kind in the Arab world, commencing in October 2022. The couple is dedicated to creating high-quality content and plans to expand the project to help an even larger number of children with disabilities. Their YouTube channel description reads:

‘Visual content in sign language and Arabic, currently airing on our YouTube channel, targeting children with hearing impairments aged 1 to 10.’

Would you like to see the sign language animations for deaf children yourself? Below is one of the videos from the ‘Tameem and Reem’ channel aimed at deaf children.”