Deaf students trained in soap-making

Several students of the Lister Mair/Gilby High School for the Deaf in St Andrew can now confidently venture into the soap-making industry, with certification from the Scientific Research Council (SRC).

This follows a free training session, held on the school grounds in Gordon Town, St Andrew, recently, that engaged more than 20 students.

The journey towards this workshop began with Tainia Taylor, a dedicated science and entrepreneurship teacher at the Lister Mair/Gilby High School.

Taylor said that the idea of this workshop emerged from discussions around equipping students with practical skill sets that would help them to become independent.

She says the students' need for hands-on learning experiences came to the fore after she implemented an entrepreneurship programme at the school with the support of a colleague.

“It has actually been a while that we have been trying to get it organised and I want to truly thank SRC for their willingness to collaborate, for jumping on board,” she said, noting that she is motivated by the school's vision to foster independence among its students.

Despite initial setbacks and challenges in securing resources, Taylor and her team persisted and worked closely with the SRC to make the workshop a reality, which culminated in an enriching experience for the students.

“It was a beautiful experience. The students truly appreciated the chance to engage in something so hands-on and practical. A lot of our students were very excited. They were looking forward to it and asking when it would happen,” Taylor explained.

The SRC's Community Development Unit took on the project with enthusiasm, under the guidance of its coordinator, Yanique Rodgers.  

“It was very interesting; we had to get creative, and that is one of the reasons we decided to go to their space because we thought it would have been easier, given the language barrier between us as SRC facilitators and the actual participants,” Rodgers said.

She added that the workshop adopted an innovative approach to create an inclusive learning environment where the participants could engage fully without added complexity of travel and unfamiliar settings.

To ensure the workshop's success, the SRC also enlisted the support of teachers and parents from the school.

These individuals played a crucial role in bridging communication gaps and providing additional support for students with more complex needs.

“We knew it was going to be challenging, but we really wanted to push through with this, because we want to empower them (the students) to develop sustainable livelihoods and to contribute to the society,” Rodgers asserted.

The coordinator said feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive.

Rodgers explained that a workshop evaluation revealed that 86 per cent of the students felt the training met their expectations and was a valuable use of their time.                

Additionally, 70 per cent found the content to be useful, and an impressive 95 per cent rated the training level as appropriate for their needs.

One of the most encouraging outcomes was the enthusiasm from the students.

“Since the workshop, one student has expressed a keen interest in continuing soap-making as a business venture. This is exactly what we hoped for, empowering students with skills they can use to build their own futures,” Rodgers shared.

Information Service Manager at the SRC, Elijah Green, said the success of the workshop has paved the way for future initiatives that represent a significant step forward in inclusive education and community engagement.

He noted that the SRC is keen on expanding this programme to other schools and invited private-sector organisations to support such endeavours.

 “We would love to see more companies get involved,” Green said.

“The more we work together, the greater impact we can have on our communities.”

Persons interested in supporting SRC's initiatives are encouraged to reach out to the council through its social media channels or by contacting them directly.

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