13 May 2016
Big Brothers Big Sisters in NZSL
Big Brothers Big Sisters, a national youth mentoring organisation, is thrilled to announce the establishment of a New
Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) mentoring programme. The first phase of the project will be launched during NZSL Week. This
programme will connect deaf children with a mentor, using New Zealand Sign Language as the primary mode of
communication.
Through this innovative project - a first in New Zealand - Big Brothers Big Sisters will extend their successful
mentoring programme to an unreached group of young people, enabling deaf children and teenagers to develop strong,
enduring, professionally supported mentoring relationships founded on the belief that all young people can achieve their
potential in life. Most deaf children are born to hearing parents, and a deaf child is often the only deaf person in a
family. Connecting with another person like themselves, using the natural language of deaf people, creates the space to
explore their identity as a deaf person, develop their confidence when communicating, and also to observe and adopt
strategies commonly used by Deaf adults.
Parents of youth who have participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programmes say they see the mentoring
experience as invaluable for their child, citing the growth that occurs when the child has regular meaningful contact
with another adult.
Dave Marshall, the National Director, says, “We are so excited about this initiative. Each mentoring relationship will
be the start of something incredible for each deaf child who participates in the programme as they will not only benefit
from the attention of someone who understands their world but will be someone who encourages them and supports them to
achieve their dreams and goals”.
The programme has been made possible through a grant from the NZSL Fund. Big Brothers Big Sisters has engaged ENNOBLE's
Rachel Noble, who is Deaf herself, and Debra Bellon, a parent of a deaf child, who is familiar with the concept of sign
language mentors from her work with similar programmes in the USA.
ENDS