Brazil: Connected to the World through Signs

Even simple tasks are difficult for the deaf: they need assistance when visiting the doctor, going to the authorities or in everyday situations so that they can communicate easily. Through the commitment of the Baptist church in Ijuí/Brazil, the CAIS deaf project was created to help those affected and their families and to reach them with the Good News.

A church wants to serve the deaf

As early as 20 years ago, Edilson Dransfeld, then pastor of the Baptist church in Ijuí, used LIBRAS sign language to make church services accessible to the deaf. Through contact with the deaf, it quickly became clear how difficult everyday life is for many of them. He developed the desire to found a center to help these people professionally and sustainably. In 2004, they founded CAIS(Center for the Integral Care of the Deaf) in Ijuí and began to accompany and support deaf people and their families.

Today, 23 children and young people receive weekly lessons in LIBRAS and Portuguese so that they can communicate better in everyday life, at school and with their families. In addition, almost 60 people are regularly assisted with visits to the authorities, doctors or even with groceries.

In conversation with a teacher for the deaf

Director Silvia da Costa is a social worker and, together with the deaf teacher Paulo, is strongly committed to the deaf and their families. Paulo talks about his work in a written interview.

EBM INTERNATIONAL: Why did you become a teacher for LIBRAS?

Paulo Augusto Matter: As I am deaf myself, I learned LIBRAS when I was 13 years old. At school, I didn't understand anything the teachers or my classmates were saying, there was no way of communicating. I was very irritable and didn't want to go to school anymore. But my mother encouraged me to carry on and learn LIBRAS. This not only enabled me to finish school successfully, but also to study education and LIBRAS literature.

After that, I wanted to become a teacher because I dreamed of teaching LIBRAS to other people, especially children. So that deaf people can lead a normal life without communication barriers. And also because I realized that there was a lack of professionals in this field.

What does it mean to be deaf in Brazil?

It's a big challenge, because people sometimes think we are incapable or mentally handicapped. In reality, we simply speak a different language to other people. In Brazil, there is a significant lack of LIBRAS interpreters in schools, public institutions or hospitals. Deaf people are often dependent on the presence of a family member to accompany them, but there are also cases where there is no support at all. CAIS helps in precisely these areas and also with communication with family members.

How does the life of a child and their family change when they come to CAIS and learn LIBRAS?

We experience a big change very quickly. Often the children had no or only very limited opportunities to communicate. Some have even made up their own sign language at home. This is sad and stressful for the families. Children who are unable to communicate are often very restless, irritable and disobedient. They can only understand their parents to a limited extent and cannot express their own wishes and needs. Everything changes when they begin to better understand the world they live in. Over time, they become calmer and also listen better to their parents.

What does this mean for the children's lives?

Children who learn LIBRAS can go to school with interpreters and understand all subjects. Later they can study and have a job like everyone else. Learning LIBRAS and hearing the gospel is something very special for them and gives them better prospects for the future. I hope that they will be able to teach other deaf people in the future and communicate better. I also hope that more hearing people will learn LIBRAS so that deaf people can lead an easier life in the future and communicate better in everyday life. Especially in churches, it would be so important for hearing people to know how to communicate in LIBRAS so that they can translate for the deaf and teach them.

On the subject of church: how do you organize spiritual life in the CAIS project?

Once a week we have a church service in LIBRAS where I preach. This is quite normal for me because LIBRAS is my mother tongue, so I can talk to deaf people quite naturally about the gospel, answer questions and explain the word of God to them. We have our own room in the church where we celebrate services in LIBRAS, with songs, prayers, testimonies and sermons. On Sundays, we take part in the joint service with all visitors with the help of interpreters.

I have hope that more deaf and hearing people will learn LIBRAS and feel God's call to teach and preach the gospel among deaf people around the world. We pray that God will call more deaf pastors to reach these people.

Thank you for the beautiful insight into your valuable ministry!

From Lars Müller. This blog post appeared in a longer version in our MAGAZINE 1/2024.