Activities

 

 

 

 

International Deaf Day
22 October 2009
Morning Activities (Part 2)

 

Preparations   |   Morning Activities (1)   |   MORNING ACTIVITIES (2)   |   Afternoon Activities (1)   |  Afternoon Activities (2)

The opening ceremony lasted just twenty-two minutes, probably a record for a ceremony involving government officials.  The TV cameras barely had time to get in place.  (Of course, they left when the officials left.   Deaf people on Deaf Day certainly aren't newsworthy.)  But then the fun started with a fashion show, a quick skit, and then some hip-hop dancing.

The deaf youth were invited to stage a fashion show. It wasn't only the most striking outfits but rather just a chance to show off clothes that they liked or just to act like the models they've seen on television.

Deaf youth in a fashion show

Some of the participants really put themselves heart and soul into the show!

Really getting into the swing of things

Sokchea (right, black) had the unenviable task of trying to judge the crowd reaction for those they liked the best.

Gauging the crowd reaction

The fashion show was simple but all the deaf people enjoyed it and cheered for their friends to win.

Watching the fashion show

In between the fashion show and the breakdancing, there was a short skit.

A short skit

Off on the sidelines, Adel O'Regan (left) from the Maryknoll AIDS project, discussed with Sarah Jago, a consultant from the Disability Action Council, while the fashions were paraded.

Adel O'Regan and Sarah Jago

Then came the breakdancing, or hip-hop as the deaf people know it here.  Quite a few really enthusiastic young men flipped, twirled, spun, and gyrated their way through various routines they devised.

Hip-hop or breakdancing

The relative skill didn't really matter too much. All the participants had fun and could enjoy an audience watching their creative moves.

Some horizontal moves

Some of the dancers had obviously studied the pros and made some pretty good moves themselves.

An energetic dancer

When the MC asked if anyone else wanted to dance, this woman came up! She didn't hip-hop as wildly as the young guys, but she was a real crowd pleaser and got a prize.

The only woman break dancer

Watching the dancing from the side, Keat Sokly, DDP's program manager, and Susan Sporl, DDP's social work advisor, talked about the goings-on.

Keat Sokly and Susan Sporl

Narin (right) saw a cart going by selling cockles and rushed out to buy a bag for a snack.

Buying a snack on the street

All the DDP staff posed for a group photo as the morning activities started to wind down.

DDP staff

To watch all the motorcycles and bicycles of the participants, the DDP guards came over from the office to watch all the two-wheelers parked out in the street.

Guarding the bicycles and motorcycles


Go to Activities page on DDP website
Go to Charlie Dittmeier's home page