BACKGROUND TO SOWETO DEAF ASSOCIATION
Soweto Deaf Association was founded in 2013 as a local human rights and advocacy organisation of, by and for Deaf people in Soweto. The organisation symbolizes the centre of the local Deaf community and represents the socio-economic and developmental aspirations of all Deaf people
Soweto Deaf Association was established to promote capacity building in the D
eaf sector within the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, to influence municipal and local sector policies and provide a range of comprehensive human development services that benefits Deaf people in areas within Soweto and the City of Johannesburg. Soweto Deaf Association has a clear mandate to mobilize and advocate for the rights of Deaf people for their effective participation in society on equal basis with others. As an advocacy organisation, Soweto Deaf Association plans to be at the forefront in promoting and advancing the rights of Deaf people at all levels of the local community. The organisation complements the work of government and provides a good basis for partnership particularly in relation to programmes in advocacy, awareness and public education; Deaf education, skills development, economic empowerment; ICT; Deaf women and Deaf youth development programmes as well as mainstreaming of Deaf people in society. Soweto Deaf Association was established as a direct response to building capacity in the local Deaf community, to influence public policies and provide a range of comprehensive human development services that benefits the Deaf people at all levels of society. Soweto Deaf Association is a member of South African National Deaf Association (SANDA), an umbrella body and the largest democratic, Deaf structure of Deaf people in South Africa.
