MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Steering children into being productive and responsible adults is no easy feat.

Giving special needs children a similar chance is perhaps more difficult. Yet, for 56 years it is the path that the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD) has taken.

Started by Canadian Christian missionaries Reverend Willis Ethridge and his wife Mildred in 1958, the CCCD caters to children with hearing impairments from as early as four years old and nurtures them into adulthood from centres in Manchester, Kingston, and Montego Bay.

“We give God the glory for everything,” Managing Director Donville Jones told the Jamaica Observer Central as he expressed the heart-warming feeling of seeing children coming into the centres, sometimes not even knowing how to spell their names, and leaving with a variety of skills.

Jones has oversight responsibility for the three residential centres for children and adolescents in addition to the Jamaica Deaf Village (JDV), on 100 acres of land in Shooters Hill Manchester, which is open to CCCD graduates and other people with hearing challenges across the island.

The JDV was designed to provide accommodation, support and encourage deaf adults to be independent.

According to a CCCD publication, even though the deaf are accessing training, finding employment to meet their basic needs presents a challenge. Potential employers who are unable to communicate using sign language are sometimes reluctant to employ them, the publication said.

It was observed that religious fellowship and socialising — even at home — can be difficult for the deaf, resulting in loneliness.

Among the activities at the Deaf Village, Jones said, is a facility where “quality hardwood” furniture is made and a showroom where they can be purchased.

Reverend Damion Campbell, who leads New Life Church for the Deaf on the property, is one of CCCD’s success stories.

After graduating from Caribbean Christian Centre in Knockpatrick, Manchester, he did further studies with the help of sponsorship at a Bible college for the deaf in the United States.

Today, he and his wife Felicia, who is also deaf and is a trained guidance counsellor, are considered to be advocates particularly for the deaf community in Manchester.

In an address through sign language and an interpreter to a graduating class of five at the Knockpatrick campus earlier this year, Campbell said that he did not believe, when it was first suggested to him, that he could be effective as a pastor, but he eventually decided to try.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God,” he said.

Students at the school receive training in subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level. There is collaboration with the HEART Trust/NTA for vocational training in different areas and work experience is provided through the National Youth Service (NYS). Extracurricular activities are also available at CCCD, including the Junior Achievement Programme and the Optimist International Oratorical Competition.

On National Heroes’ Day, the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf was recognised for its contribution to education and community development in Manchester.

The managing director said that other ideas have been conceptualised to further grow the school and to make the campuses more energy-efficient using solar technology.

“We need more sponsors and donations,” he added.