Deaf students shine at CSR expo

From: Manila Bulletin - Sep 5, 2005

Deaf students shine at CSR expo

The relatively untapped yet competitive skills of young deaf people from the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) were highlighted at the recently concluded 2005 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Expo.

Organized by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), the CSR Expo was held from July 4 to 6, at the Westin Philippine Plaza. The CSR Expo was an effective venue for key decision-makers to take notice of the potential of deaf people to become productive employees in their companies.

"Throughout the duration of the expo, we received numerous inquiries and met with representatives from organizations that SDEAS could partner with. There are a lot of exciting possibilities that hopefully, will truly benefit the Filipino deaf community in the future," remarked Eric Daniel Soriano, OIC Dean of DLS-CSB SDEAS.

During the expo’s opening ceremony, three members of Silent Steps, DLS-CSB’s deaf artistic group, interpreted the words to "The Lord’s Prayer" in Filipino Sign Language (FSL). SDEAS, which offers a bachelor’s degree in Applied Deaf Studies, also had a booth in the Visayas Ballroom of the Westin. The booth displayed some of the best works of its students and alumni under the Multimedia Arts track, such as photographs, websites, digital and animated artworks.

Another highlight of the booth was the award-winning business plan designed by a group of students under the Business Entrepreneurship track. Early this year, they won the top prize at the "Spark: A Youth Enter-ployment Business Plan Competition," which was funded and supported by the Dutch National Commission for Sustainable Development.

Chocolate candies made by Deaf Benildean business students were also given to visitors who gamely learned the FSL sign of the day.

SDEAS is a partner institution of PEN International, the first-of-a-kind international partnership of colleges and universities serving the postsecondary education needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. It offers partial to full scholarships for tertiary education to qualified Filipino Deaf youth with high school diplomas. For more information and inquiries, please contact telephone no. (632) 526-7441 local 131 or e-mail sdeas@dls-csb.edu.ph..

@2005 Manila Bulletin