Botswana country report

Botswana is very peaceful country, but we are very behind South Africa in all the developments for deaf people.

In 2007 we were able to train 16 sign language interpreters. We established a committee and registered as an association. The work of the association went up and down, but we are committed to have a true association within the coming year.

The news and some informational programmes on tv are interpreted. The government has committed to train at least 6 interpreters per year. Currently there are two nearly finished who trained abroad.

The Ministry of Education tried to come up with a resource book, but the project was not done well unfortunately. Our greatest challenges are having recognising sign language, empowering the deaf and establishing an association.

Most of the parents of the deaf persons are illiterate and they need to be educated.