27 Feb 2022

Four deaf employees of Bible Society will on Sunday leave for Nairobi, Kenya, where they will for the next six months undergo training in Sign Language Bible translation at Door International Deaf Training School. 

The four, Mr Mompati Dimbe, Mr Bayengi Mokiya, Ms Thato Marope, and Ms Gaosupelwe Mophuting, will after training, engage in a project that will will compile the first ever Bible in sign language for the deaf community of Botswana. 

Bidding them farewell in Gaborone on Friday, Bible Society Board chairperson, Dr Boitirelo Kabo said Botswana would be joined by Zimbabwe and eSwatini among other countries at the training. 

Most of those who are deaf, Mr Kabo said did not see themselves as part of Gods plan for humanity and could not fully experience the love of God. 

“Once the Sign Language Bible is produced, it will promote a sense of belonging and independence among Deaf Christians and the entire community,” Dr Kabo said. 

He said setting up a translation project would create job opportunities for the deaf, and the translated Bible would help them gain knowledge in the Word of God and restore their self-importance. 

The project is funded by the United Bible Societies to the tune of about P1.7 million. 

The project follows a meeting between the deaf community and Bible Society of Botswana in March 12, 2020, where the deaf called for translation of the Bible to sign language. 

Bible Society of Botswana general secretary, Mr Ofentse Maruing said the Bible Society existed, to promote the widest possible and effective distribution of the Holy Scriptures and Scripture related materials. 

He said they worked with churches, Christians and individuals noting that the church was an important partner in achieving and ensuring that the Bible was accessible to everyone. 

The Bible Society’s vision was for Batswana to have access to the Bible in the languages and medium of their choice, he said. 

Mr Maruping appreciated government’s recognition of faith-based organisations as the foundation upon which society built its moral and ethical standards for social development and cohesion. 

“ Vision 2036 specifically notes and emphasises that among others, faith-based institutions will play a significant role in shaping the morality of our society,” he said. ENDS