On 13 November 2024, the club’s guest speakers were Mai McCann and Liên Don Thi Nhu who provided an overview of the Hearing and Beyond Educational Centre in Hoi An, Vietnam. Founded by Mai McCann, it is the only educational facility for deaf and hard of hearing children in the vicinity of the city of over 100,000. Without education, these children are not able to communicate, become socially isolated with limited prospects for community acceptance, work and a future.
There is no government support, the Centre started from 2 part-time students in 2008 to 29 current full-time students who have learnt to read and write with some receiving speech and sign language to communicate in the hearing world. To broaden the school’s offering, Mai has developed a Skills Centre. Here the children will learn vocational skills training from locally based and occasional overseas skilled volunteers. The deaf and hard of hearing students now have the opportunity of hands-on learning which enhances their chances of meaningful employment.
Rotary Camberwell has been a long standing supporter of the Hearing and Beyond Centre and is a proud sponsor the Skills Centre.