Telling a story without speaking

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UNICEF HK |
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Vincent hopes his video Vincent in Silentland will make people more aware of how difficult life is for people with hearing disabilities.

I was born deaf. My parents didn’t even know until I had a check-up when I was a year old. I got a cochlear implant when I was two years old, and when I was four,
I started at a mainstream kindergarten and then primary school.

I couldn’t understand my teachers and classmates, which made me very unhappy. Later, I switched to the Lutheran School for the Deaf where all my classmates had hearing disabilities. They communicated through sign language and taught me to do so. I was very happy. At first, my parents did not want me to use sign language because they thought it is a language for the deaf. But they changed their mind after seeing that sign language helps me understand others better. They even learned it themselves so they could communicate with me. I hope my sister can also learn it, because I have a lot to share with her.

Although I have had surgery, I still can’t hear very clearly. Sometimes, I cannot express myself clearly orally even though I try my best. People misunderstand me because of my poor speaking and listening skills. II makes me feel depressed and helpless.

I wish everyone could understand sign language, and that people would better understand the problems faced by deaf people.

We are helpless and silent. If people could use sign language to communicate with us, we would feel accepted and valued by society.

Joining Unicef HK’s “Make A Video” contest allowed me to express my feelings, while letting others understand the deaf. I learned how to write stories and convert them into images and movies, too. It was a valuable experience.

Unicef HK’s “Make A Video” competition gives young people a chance to express themselves through video. The project is co-organised by Hong Kong Arts Centre’s IVFA, with support from Hang Seng Bank and Young Post. Check out the videos here. Email your feedback to [email protected]

Edited by Sam Gusway

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