Young bookworms at Action Deaf Youth receive a helping hand from Power NI
The Belfast based association was nominated to receive the community funding by Power NI employee, Gonzalo Olarte-Martin, as part of the company’s staff sponsorship scheme ‘Helping Hands’, which gives staff the opportunity to put forward local groups and organisations for funding. Thanks to the donation, the association was able to purchase extra-large books for children taking part in interactive story time.
Action Deaf Youth, formerly known as Northern Ireland Deaf Youth Association (NIDYA), was founded in 1988. It came about after a reunion of young deaf people revealed shared feelings of isolation and an evident need for support. The Association felt it was time for deaf people to speak for themselves and so NIDYA was born.
Today, they offer services for deaf children in early childhood as well as deaf youth, with services including: play therapy sessions and sign camps, as well as deaf youth support which provides opportunities for deaf teens to meet across Northern Ireland, building positive relationships and allowing deaf youth to actively participate with their peers and communities.
Power NI is delighted to support Action Deaf Youth by providing funding for new interactive learning resources. The funding from Power NI will give the association a much-needed boost and help support the learning of many deaf children, allowing the children to develop their literacy and language skills and foster a love for reading. This funding will also ensure that Action Deaf Youth continue to offer new learning experiences and provide specialist support and care to our young deaf community.
Grateful for the funding, Power NI employee Gonzalo Olarte-Martin whose daughter Ana attends the scheme, commented:
“Power NI has been very generous in donating £300 to Action Deaf Youth. The money will help to purchase books for deaf children who use the service, helping them improve their literacy skills. The Helping Hands scheme is a great initiative from Power NI to help local communities around Northern Ireland and I’m very grateful they chose to support this cause.”
Julie Graham, Active Play Coordinator for Action Deaf Youth commented:
"The very kind donation from Power NI has been used to extend our collection of big books for young deaf children. The development of literacy skills is an extremely challenging area for deaf children and instilling a love of reading and enjoyment of books/stories in the children has a huge impact on the development of their literacy skills, so we are delighted with this donation and know it will make a big difference. Thank you so much Power NI and to Gonzalo Olarte-Martin for nominating us for this funding."
