Remarks by Ambassador Popp for the National Deaf and Hearing Conference at YY Okot Memorial College, Kitgum

• Your Lordship, Right Reverend Wilson Kitara, Bishop of the Diocese of Kitgum and all church management.
• Mr. Ebil Jimmy Seggawa, Resident District Commissioner and different Ugandan authorities representatives.
• Oloya Joe, Inspector of Police and different safety personnel.
• The deaf group—together with youth, members of the financial savings group ministries;
• representatives from Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, and the DRC;
• Peace Corps Uganda workers & All distinguished visitors.

It is an honor to affix you for this National Deaf and Hearing Conference — a gathering that promotes connectivity, accessibility, and communities.

The United States is proud to face with you thru the U.S. Peace Corps’ collaboration with the Kitgum group. We are additionally pleased with the many different methods the Peace Corps has supported Ugandan communities since 1964. Nearly 2,000 American Volunteers have served in Uganda, residing and working alongside their neighbors to advertise well being, training, agriculture, and jobs.

One of these Volunteers is with us in the present day. Nathaniel has labored with Hope International for almost two years, empowering group members — together with the deaf — with financial savings and mortgage expertise, income-generating actions, improved agricultural practices, and different instruments that create enterprise alternatives and strengthen livelihoods. Nathaniel’s work displays the Peace Corps’ mission — to advertise peace and friendship by cooperation and service.

Today’s gathering exhibits the imaginative and prescient of what’s potential when church leaders, authorities, NGOs, and communities come collectively to raise one another up. In this room, we’ve got deaf CEOs, school college students, entrepreneurs, tech specialists, lecturers, athletes, and so many others — residing proof that capability is just not outlined by listening to, however by dedication, ability, advantage and coronary heart.

In July, I spoke at an occasion at the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped. I instructed them that … “hope is not abstract. It is alive. It is tangible. It takes the shape of children learning to read, communities welcoming people of all abilities, and individuals refusing to give up on themselves or others.”

The U.S. Government has been proud to assist accessibility efforts in Uganda, together with by grants that increase instructional alternatives. And I’m inspired to see this convention offering coaching in monetary literacy, entrepreneurship, and enterprise expertise – sensible instruments that assist folks take management of their financial future.

I additionally need to acknowledge the group organizations working each day with the deaf group. Your efforts remind us that progress is a shared endeavor, and that accessibility is just not a slogan – it’s motion. Please sustain the nice work.

To the deaf group – I urge you to make use of your abilities and expertise, and to grab alternatives to create optimistic change. Take this time to make new connections, share concepts, change cellphone numbers and emails, and discover enterprise alternatives. Make the most out of this distinctive alternative to come back along with one another and don’t let it finish right here. Take these connections ahead and create alternatives for your self and others. Finally, be sure to are saving, planning, and following your goals, make it possible for this Conference is simply the begin for many great outcomes.

As we glance ahead, might we construct on what is occurring right here in Kitgum. May we feature these connections ahead into extra communities, extra lecture rooms, extra workplaces. And might we at all times see potential earlier than limitation.

I sit up for receiving my signal language identify – and to persevering with to work alongside you in constructing alternatives for each particular person’s talents to be acknowledged, valued, and celebrated.  Thank you.