<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"><DIV>Hello all.</DIV>
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<DIV>I am really new to Sign Writing but it looks like a wonderful concept!</DIV>
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<DIV>My name is Sharon Valentino and I am an American Missionary who has been ni Nigeria since May 2007. I love this country so much and don't have any immediate plans to go back to the U.S. to live right now. There is just too much to do here.</DIV>
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<DIV>I have been in Deaf Ministry for more than 15 years and since I have arrived in Nigeria I've been connecting with a lot of Deaf people, including children. I visit and work with two Deaf residential schools here, The Imo State Secondary School for the Deaf in Orodo and the primary school in Orlu. There are not many interpreters for these children at religous services so I am so happy to be able to help in that way. These schools are so overcrowded and there is a very big lack of resources available to the kids. The seconday school should house under 200 but there are 500 full time students there and they are sleeping two in a small bed. Most of their families are very poor so there is even a lack of materials that our children in the States take for granted.</DIV>
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<DIV>Great news is that we now have at least 11 deaf adults attending our church and I am trying to start some classes to help train interpreters for them. Bad news is that the is a very big lack of materials here to teach with so if anyone has any books or videos they can donate for training, they will be well used and much appreciated.</DIV>
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<DIV>I contacted Val recently to let her know about the situation with the Deaf children here. I think they would really benefit from this SignWriting program and she is kind enough to have agreed to donate some books for the children.</DIV>
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<DIV>If anyone would like further information and the great things that are happening here in Nigeria, I do a newsletter about my work with the deaf and I would be happy to put you on my mailing list.</DIV>
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<DIV>You can contact me by email at <A href="mailto:svalentino@yahoo.com">svalentino@yahoo.com</A> or my mailing address is:</DIV>
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<DIV>Sharon Valentino</DIV>
<DIV>c/o WAAST</DIV>
<DIV>11 Waast Ave., Ikenegbu Layout</DIV>
<DIV>Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria</DIV>
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<DIV>I hope to hear back from some of you with suggestions on how to proceed with helping the children learn to Sign Write.</DIV>
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<DIV>Thank you for your time and be blessed.</DIV>
<DIV>Sharon</DIV></div><br>
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