Passionate educator brings HIV education to learners with hearing disabilities, despite barriers

Agatha Borbor has had to overcome many challenges to bring HIV and AIDS education to those with hearing disabilities in her community, Liberia, West Africa. When a close friend of hers died from AIDS, Agatha became increasingly passionate about encouraging young people to go to volunteer testing and counseling facilities and work toward overcoming issues concerning stigma and discrimination. Despite the lack of funding to support proper educational efforts, and the shortage of sign-language interpreters, she used her limited vacation days to bring together children and young adults to provide comprehensive AIDS education. Using the TeachAids Educator Handbook, she conducted a several hour session for children and young adults, ranging from 14 to 25 years old, at the Free Pentecost School.

“There is a lot of interest in the deaf community in Liberia West Africa on the subject of HIV but capacity building and funding are lacking in order to develop this interest…I would like to say thanks a lot to your program TeachAids for assisting me assist the deaf in the educations on HIV/AIDS” – Mrs. Agatha Borbor, Sign-Language Interpreter

The TeachAids materials served to prompt a discussion about the importance of drug adherence, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and the process of HIV testing. Through the TeachAids materials, Agatha was able to expand and improve the content of her lessons. She said, “Again I would like to say thank a lot to TeachAids for increasing my knowledge on HIV/AIDS. I really desire to assist more deaf because they are always left out due to the fact that many well meaning people do not know sign language to communicate with them.“

TeachAids is immensely proud of the courage and conviction of Mrs. Agatha Borbor, who worked tirelessly to overcome the communication barrier, and many other challenges, to bring HIV and AIDS education to her community.

Photo: Agatha Borbor uses the TeachAids Educator Handbook to teach deaf students at Free Pentecost School, Liberia