2019.11.17
Chen-Yan, a 12 years old boy, standing on the well-decorated stage with props, performing a well-prepared magic show. He speaks fluently and his lines are full of humor. Audiences are witnessing the effort that Children’s Hearing Foundation (CHF) put into all the children with hearing loss who are now living with confidence.
Audiences are satisfied by Chen-Yan’s magic performance.
The story starts here
“It’s a whole new challenge and a whole new me.” said Chen-Yan, while giving a magic show on the stage. Like Chen-Yan, children with hearing loss are embracing whole new lives.
In order to encourage children with hearing loss who have overcame the obstacles and are now in mainstream schools, CHF has been providing Joanna Scholarship since 2002. Each year, CHF gives recognition to students with hearing loss who have outstanding performance at schools. During the 19th Joanna Scholarship ceremony, there are 35 elementary and high school students with hearing loss accepting the recognition, accompanied by their families.
Guo Liang Xing is the host of the ceremony and he has to control the flow and make sure the rundown goes well. Liang Xing holds great composure on stage and talks fluently, it is hard to believe that he is only 11 years old and born with profound hearing loss. Besides, two teenagers with hearing loss whom CHF has helped also attend the ceremony to share their life stories with all the children with hearing loss and their families. “Thanks for all the help and support, we are doing great!”
Liang Xing (Left) holds great composure on stage even though he is only 11.
Persistence – 10,000 hours of practice.
Every child at CHF needs countless repetitive practices to develop crucial speech and language abilities. It requires persistence for children with hearing loss to go through the whole process – from the minute they are diagnosed with hearing loss and to receive auditory-verbal approach at CHF, then finally, enter a mainstream school.
Zhang Jian Fan, the teenager with hearing loss who receives an Academic Excellent Award, gives a speech at the end of the ceremony. “Accepting myself and standing right here with confidence are the results of countless practicing and conquering many obstacles in life.” said Jian Fan, revealing the voice of many children with hearing loss.
Starting on a journey – The life with sound
By receiving auditory-verbal intervention sessions regularly before age six, children with hearing loss may develop crucial speech and language abilities and enter mainstream schools and create their own future. CHF aims to continue helping children with hearing loss and their families, inherits the spirit of Joanna Scholarship, helping more brilliant children with hearing loss to be seen by the society.
Children and teenagers with hearing loss come together for the 19th Joanna Scholarship Ceremony,
they encourage each other to be a better person in the future.
