On International Mother Language Day, the Dominican School for the Deaf in Cape Town brightened the spirit of inclusivity and linguistic celebration. The lively atmosphere of the school resonated with the joyous expressions of its students, reflecting the vibrant culture and linguistic diversity thriving within the deaf community.

At the heart of this celebration was a profound acknowledgment of the transformative power of using sign language for storytelling. Nal’ibali’s storytelling sessions not only offered a unique and inclusive medium for communication and expression among the school children but also became a symbol of celebration for the diverse forms of expression within the deaf community. 

Deaf children, primarily educated in signed languages, face distinct challenges when learning to read and write in a non-signed language. This way, the storytelling sessions conducted in sign language at the Dominican School for the Deaf went beyond mere entertainment, evolving into a powerful celebration of expression.

Principal Hillary Arenz expressed gratitude to Nal’ibali, stating, “We would like to thank Nal’ibali for collaborating with us in such an important event,  engaging and providing storytelling sessions to our children.”

Another integral part was the school's unwavering commitment to holistic education which underscored the importance of addressing not only language achievement but also the mental, emotional, and social development of students.  The event at the Dominican School for the Deaf served as a poignant reminder of the vital importance of sign language inclusion in educational practices, particularly in Early Childhood Development as well as connecting students to their cultural roots and fostering a profound sense of belonging.