FMM

1
FMM

• Federation of the Deaf in Madagascar

2
The situation in Madagascar

• Population in Madagascar 19 million people
  appr. 1 of this number are deaf (appr.190000)
• Only appr. 2000 deaf people are registered in the
  schools and/or associations
• Many deaf people live in isolation, extreme
  poverty, no access into school

3
FMM chronicle

• 1950 1st school for the deaf in Madagascar, by
  Pastor Erick Børgenvik (Norwegian Mission).

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FMM chronicle

• 1962 1st association of the deaf in Madagascar
  (FMSM) no donnor, no effective project.

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FMM chronicle

• 2004 establishement of the Federation of the
  Deaf in Madagascar (FMM).
• Donnor Norwegian Association of the Deaf (NDF)

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The FMM project

• GOAL to improve living conditions for deaf in
  Madagascar
• Donor the Norwegian Association of the deaf
• Implementation of the 3 years action plan
  2007-2009 (Deaf Action in Madagascar, DAM)
• Main project activities
• Interpreter education
• Production of Sign Language Book at Madagascar
• The organization FMM (lobbying, training,
  awareness raising, networking, capacity building
  etc)

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Main project activity

• Iterpreter Education
• Sign language book
• Lobbying and organization

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The FMM project

• PURPOSE to improve living conditions for deaf in
  Madagascar
• DURATION 2006 - 2009
• MEAN the action plan 2007-2009 (Deaf Action in
  Madagascar, DAM)
• BUDGET approx. 50 000 USD per year
• COOPERATION local stakeholders

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Problem situation for deaf

• Poor living conditions
• unaware of their human rights
• Stigmatization and isolation
• No access to public schools
• Only 8 deaf schools (Church and private)
• Scarcity of interpreters (only 5 interpreters)
• Absence of Sign Language book

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FMM activities

• To educate 13 interpreters in 2007, and continue
  to educate 20 more interpreters in 2008
• To produce the first sign language book in 2007
• To lobby government in deaf rights (access to
  public services, e.g. education)
• Lobby government to take responsibility of the
  interpreter situation (interpreters a
  profession)
• Awareness raising about deafness, in civil
  society (e.g. news interpreted on TV)

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The 1st results at this time

• 13 deaf clubs (7 before) with 250 members
• The 1st video support
• for malagasy sign language
• Interpreted news
• on National TV
• 14 new interpreters
• The FMM is recognized by the local NGOs as a
  minority group organization

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The organization FMM

• One General Secretary (full time)
• One assistant (full time)
• Two project leaders (that originally work as
  teachers in deaf schools)
• One treasurer and one accountant
• A board consisting of members from the 12 deaf
  clubs in the regions
• Meetings and seminars during the year

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It is a challenge!

• To fight for the rights of deaf people in
  Madagascar in the future
• The future is a challenge lack of money and
  support
• FMM hope to make
• a difference!