WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:01.020 --> 00:00:06.347 Welcome. Today I'm joined by a girl who  has just been selected 00:00:06.347 --> 00:00:09.200 to continue with her education at a high school. 00:00:09.825 --> 00:00:14.920 She is DeafBlind and she is going to introduce herself and we are going to know more about her. 00:00:20.586 --> 00:00:24.720 First, what's your name, and where do you  come from, and how did you acquire deafblindness? 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:29.204 I am Chrissy Matumba and I come from Zomba. 00:00:29.204 --> 00:00:33.018 I acquired these disabilities because 00:00:33.018 --> 00:00:37.760 of disease such as tuberculosis and  retinoblastoma cancer. 00:00:38.503 --> 00:00:41.512 [dramatic piano and strings music] 00:00:59.292 --> 00:01:02.752 Recently, you've just been selected because you scored very well 00:01:02.752 --> 00:01:06.540 and how-what were some of the challenges that you faced when 00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:09.368 going through the education previously? 00:01:09.368 --> 00:01:18.880 There was a lack of assistive devices, and fellow students dejected me when I have sought help, 00:01:18.880 --> 00:01:23.267 and also a scarcity of teaching and learning materials. 00:01:26.017 --> 00:01:28.017 [paper rustling] 00:01:29.466 --> 00:01:34.960 Despite all these challenges how did you manage to  score very well just like the way you have done?   00:01:35.460 --> 00:01:41.600 I worked hard so that in the future I help my parents, 00:01:41.600 --> 00:01:45.720 and also I looked for other alternatives 00:01:45.720 --> 00:01:50.500 to find the material for reading. 00:01:55.643 --> 00:01:58.920 What do you want that should be done 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:06.180 so that you persons with DeafBlindness go  through the education system smoothly and or   00:02:06.180 --> 00:02:08.631 become what you want to become in future? 00:02:08.631 --> 00:02:11.765 Learning materials should be available to us. 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:15.918 Thank you that you have been in the interview 00:02:15.918 --> 00:02:20.185 and I thank you very much because you have shared with me your story, thank you. 00:02:20.185 --> 00:02:22.335 Thank you. 00:02:22.335 --> 00:02:27.215 I'm also joined by one of the teachers who are here providing education. 00:02:27.215 --> 00:02:32.856 He's going to introduce himself and his position here. Welcome, Mister. 00:02:32.856 --> 00:02:35.672 Thank you very much. I am Ernest Sokasoka. 00:02:35.672 --> 00:02:39.240 I'm the head of the Department for Special Needs here at Blantyre Secondary School. 00:02:39.518 --> 00:02:45.000 You have welcomed a young DeafBlind girl. I don't know, how are you going to make sure   00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:50.418 that maybe the environment is well conducive  that she's going to be grasping the lessons and   00:02:50.418 --> 00:02:53.979 you are providing necessary support for her? 00:02:53.979 --> 00:03:00.929 Thank you very much. My role will just be trying to modify all the lessons all the curriculum concepts 00:03:00.929 --> 00:03:08.520 that she has to understand and match together with the learners in their classes. 00:03:08.997 --> 00:03:12.589 [mechanical keyboard clacking] 00:03:12.930 --> 00:03:15.518 As a school, you do have some of the challenges 00:03:15.518 --> 00:03:19.020 what are some of the challenges that you want  to be addressed so that maybe when it comes to   00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:24.840 issues of handling persons with disabilities  like those with DeafBlindness are managed? 00:03:25.256 --> 00:03:31.500 One of the problems that we face is the  scarcity of resources just like Braille papers 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:36.840 and Braille machines that are so  expensive that at times the school fails   00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:41.540 to procure by itself, and we want to rely to donations 00:03:41.540 --> 00:03:45.434 from other organizations and, at times, government services. 00:03:45.434 --> 00:03:49.355 Thank you for allowing me to have a chat with you. 00:03:49.355 --> 00:03:50.758 Thank you very much.