- The Deaf Awareness Silent Walk in Mowbray aimed to give hearing participants a glimpse into the daily experiences of the Deaf community by having them walk with earplugs.
- Organised by DeafSA Western Cape, the walk raised awareness about Deaf culture and promoted inclusivity during Deaf Awareness Month.
- Organiser Jabaar Mohammed hopes this event will foster greater understanding and continue to grow awareness for the Deaf community.
In a unique initiative to raise awareness about deafness participants joined a Deaf Awareness Silent Walk on Saturday 7 September in Mowbray.
“This walk had a specific aim to provide hearing participants with a sense of what it’s like to navigate the world as a Deaf person,” said Jabaar Mohammed, Director of DeafSA Western Cape and organiser of the initiative.
Participants wore earplugs for an hour-long 5 km walk, simulating the experience of living without sound.
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Mohammed, the driving force behind the event, explained his motivation. “I’ve organised walks like the Big Fun Walk and the Discovery Walk before, but this one is different,” he said. “Most of our community don’t really understand what it means to be deaf. The idea is for hearing people to wear earplugs and feel what it’s like for one hour during Deaf Awareness Month.”
Mohammed added.
Promoting the event took various forms, utilising social media platforms and local radio. “We advertised through Facebook, Instagram, emails, WhatsApp broadcasts and Heart FM was a great supporter this year,” Mohammed said.
His promotional efforts paid off, with participants embracing the experience wholeheartedly. “They want more,” Mohammed said with a smile.
“They loved the walk and even asked for more kilometers next time. The feedback was great – they really enjoyed it and found it eye-opening.”
One of the key messages Mohammed hopes participants took away from the event is that Deaf people are just as capable as anyone else. “The more people understand about deafness and the deaf community, the more they get involved. Deaf people are human, just like everyone else. There’s no room for negative thoughts or misconceptions,” he emphasised.
Looking ahead, Mohammed has plans to keep the momentum going. “DeafSA Western Cape is committed to raising awareness every month with different themes. For example, October is Cancer Awareness Month and we’re planning something for the deaf community with a focus on cancer survivors. We’ll keep on doing more to foster understanding and support,” he said.
The walk was also a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusivity and understanding.
