The program was scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM with the arrival of the official guests from the ministry. Deaf people started gathering at 6:30 AM, however, not unusual at all in Cambodian culture where most weddings take place at 6:00 o'clock in the morning.

Because official guests were coming from the ministry, it was necessary to provide special tables and chairs for them and for the representatives from partner NGOs. Here Som Vichet, our interpreter project coordinator, places flowers on the table where the ministry VIP would sit.

Justin Smith, the deputy director of the Deaf Development Programme, welcomed Ngin Saorath, the executive director of the Cambodian Disabled People's Organization.

After the national anthem was "sung" in sign language, Charlie Dittmeier welcome all the guests and the deaf people to this year's Deaf Day celebration. Charlie spoke only in sign language and an interpreter voiced his welcome for the hearing people.

The venue for this year's celebration was at the DDP Deaf Community Center. It is a somewhat small area, but it was adequate for the numbers this year and it avoided the complications of using a public venue which would have necessitated dealing with the municipality—normally a difficult endeavor—and paying bribes.

Veasna, one of the DDP's seven interpreters, listened to the verbal speeches and interpreted them into Cambodia Sign Language for the deaf audience.

His Excellency Kim Sokha, one of the Secretaries of State from the Ministry of Social Affairs, was the honored guest and gave a speech on behalf of the government.

After the speeches, the guests toured a simple exhibit of DDP's sign language books and photos of our activities. The guests were supposed to participate in a demonstration 20-minute sign language class, but they got moving toward the exit and just kept on going.

Heang Samath, one of the DDP sign language researchers, was the MC for the morning ceremony. Samath has been part of the deaf community since its earliest days in 1996.

Most of the deaf people attending the Deaf Day festivities were from Phnom Penh. The Deaf Development Programme did not bring in its students studying in the provinces. The NGO ADD (Action for Development and Disability) brought this large group from Kampong Speu Province, however.

When the guests had gone, the yard of the Deaf Community Center was rearranged for games and the deaf youth prepared for an enjoyable day.

It was not planned, but the staff of DDP decided to go to lunch together and had an enjoyable meal at a nearby restaurant.