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'Handspeak' - television history in the making
Children's Performing Arts Workshop (CHIPAWO)
May 30, 2005

Zimbabwean television history will be made at 11am on Sunday 5th June when the first episode of the first television series for and by the deaf will be broadcast. This is a weekly magazine programme in Sign Language entitled 'Handspeak'. There will be sub-titles so hearing viewers will be able to follow what is being said.

Each episode will feature a short lesson on Sign Language, news about and for the deaf, a drama on the topic of the week followed by a discussion with guests on the programme and the 'Window of Hope' - a profile of a deaf persons who have, despite the odds, made something of their lives. The series features topics such as Love and Marriage, Careers for deaf people, HIV/AIDS, Education, Communication with others in the community and Entertainment and Relaxation.

The producer of the programme is Nyasha Nyamwanza, the 'Challenged' Programme Officer in CHIPAWO, herself deaf. Nyasha is a graduate of Emerald Hill School for the Deaf and the programme has grown out of the work that the school and CHIPAWO have done together to develop arts education in the deaf community. Nyasha is also the anchor in the show and all the dramas have were developed and acted by students at Emerald Hill.

The Principal of Emerald Hill School for the Deaf is Sr Tariro Chimanyiwa, who happens to be the Chairperson of the National Council for the Deaf. She has given the project unwavering support. The Council, in conjunction with CHIPAWO and ZBC, will be officially launching the series on 15th June.

The television series is the work of CHIPAWO Media with assistance with funding from MS Zimbabwe, the Danish development organisation. Though the first series was filmed by an all-hearing crew, it is planned that in future a deaf crew will be trained.

Though there are television programmes for the deaf in other countries, there are not many in Africa that have such programmes. In Zimbabwe 10% of the content of the national television broadcaster, ZTV, is expected to be for the hearing impaired. As there was virtually nothing before, except for certain news programmes in Sign Language, 'Handspeak' will go a long way towards filling the gap

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