Fidele Irizabimbuto began learning sign language in 2006, when he was in secondary school. He had a clear mission: to teach the Bible to people with hearing impairments in his church in Kiyovu, Kigali. Little did he know the modest initiative would develop into a career. “I started it as a way of teaching people the Bible In our church. We initiated a program to learn sign language with the aim of helping persons with hearing impairment,” recalls 37-year-old Irizabimbuto, who now works at Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA). At the time Rwanda had a shortage of people who could interpret sign language. He recalled that there were not more than five professionals in the country. ALSO READ: What International Day of Sign Languages is all about Recognizing the need for sign language interpreters, Irizabimbuto, who does not have any disability, began working as an interpreter after completing secondary school in 2008. Despite the lack of formal training opportunities in sign language interpretation then, Irizabimbuto worked closely with the Rwanda National Union of the Deaf and other institutions. He has over the past 16 years of experience as a sign language interpreter. He joined Rwanda Television in 2012 and has since made news accessible to viewers with hearing impairments. “I'm contributing to the lives of persons with hearing impairment, but when I started, there were about five interpreters; now, there are almost 150 who have acquired training and are serving in our everyday life, he says. Irizabimbuto’s contribution goes beyond the media. He has worked in educational institutions, including the University of Rwanda's College of Education, where he served as an interpreter for a lecturer with hearing impairment. Challenges facing the deaf community Despite the progress made in addressing issues affecting people with disabilities, significant challenges remain, especially for those with hearing impairment. Irizabimbuto highlights the lack of teachers trained in sign language, which hampers the education of students with hearing impairment. ALSO READ: International week of the deaf honours Rwanda's achievements in advancing women, girls’ rights “We do not have enough teachers who are able to teach this category of persons with hearing impairment. Even those trying to help in integrated schools are not qualified interpreters in education,” he noted. Access to medical services is another critical aspect. “Imagine you are sick, you go to hospital, and the healthcare provider is not even able to communicate with you,” Fidele laments. These communication barriers are still a problem in other essential services like banking, justice, and public transportation, and they everyday tasks daunting for individuals with hearing impairment. To address these issues, Irizabimbuto advocates for the recognition of Rwandan Sign Language as an official language. “We have many Rwandans who are using sign language. They are our sisters, our kids, our parents. Recognizing the Rwandan sign language officially means we do not leave anyone behind,” he said. He emphasised the importance of integrating sign language into the education system, particularly in Teacher Training Colleges. “Let's involve the sign language course in the whole educational system. It means that future teachers will understand sign language and can teach it in schools,” he noted. Irizabimbuto also encourages families with deaf members to learn sign language. “When you have a brother, sister, or parent who is deaf, it’s really very easy for you to go learn sign language, start communicating, remove the barrier for your relatives, and again, serve the country,” he says. “This is a great job for me and I enjoy it. You will be satisfied to see how you are helping the lives of your colleagues, your children, your future wife, your future husband, your future co-worker, everyone.” He believes that everyone has a role to play in fostering inclusion. “Be a support. See at your hand the change in the life of a person with hearing impairment.” On the occasion of the International Week of Deaf People, which runs from September 23 to 26, Irizabimbuto shared an empowering message for the deaf. “Having disabilities does not mean being unable. Don't discriminate against yourself. Face the world. Please, fight for yourself,” Irizabimbuto said. He emphasised that individuals with hearing impairments possess talents like anyone else. “They can make the best writers, the best observers, the best mathematicians, the best IT specialists; they concentrate on using their sight effectively,” he said. Irizabimbuto urges them to embrace their abilities and not shy away from opportunities. “When you show up, it is an opportunity to show the rest of the community that there is a barrier that needs to be solved, don't hide yourself. Once you show up, the barriers are going to be removed at all costs,” he noted.
