Sign Language Instructors Course Started in Germany

The German Sign Language Course, jointly organized by ILM Academicians and Gebärdenservice Berlin to train sign language instructors among Muslims in Germany, started with the opening program.

The opening program of the German Sign Language Course, jointly organized by ILM Academicians and Gebärdenservice Berlin, took place in Cologne on Friday, January 21. The program, which was commenced with 14 participants, will take place for two years. Afterwards, Islamic Sign Language Terms Training will be held by Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey University. Participants who successfully complete the course are expected to work as "Sign Language Interpreters" in Islamic educational institutions and mosques. Apart from this, they are expected to take an active part in education and religious services for the hearing impaired.

President of ILM Academicians, Dr. Abdulhalim İnam stated the following in his opening speech: “Our most important principle in education is the principle of 'the best of people is the one who is beneficial to people.' While carrying out our educational activities, we prioritize continuous renewal and development in accordance with the requirements of the age. Our understanding of this issue can be expressed as lifelong learning. Our biggest aim is to serve people, because human being is the most honorable of creation. The only being that can reconstruct the earth and provide peace and tranquility is human. Here, we want to present the value given to human beings in the best way with the trainings that we see here today as well.”

“WE AIM TO PROVIDE OBSTACLE-FREE OPPORTUNITIES”

Director of ILM Academicians, Dr. Hakan Aydın, on the other hand, talked about the purpose of the course in his speech. Hakan Aydın stated the following: “We aim to be the 'voice' of our hearing-impaired brothers and sisters in mosques and educational institutions and to offer them unhindered opportunities. At the opening of the program, I would like to express that we need to think about the following phrase expressed by sign language instructor Andreas Costrau in a somewhat pleasant way: ‘Today, it is not me who is disabled here, it is you who are disabled by not knowing sign language.’ It is our primary goal as ILM to provide support to mosque associations and educational institutions with educational activities that will reach all segments of the Muslim community.”

Responsible for the program, Zehra Alver emphasized that the studies carried out previously for the visually impaired  in the field of education for the disabled continue. Alver said, “In addition to these, we are happy to start sign language education. Disabled people do not only belong to the society, they are a very important part that we should not forget, especially in the stage of building the society. I look forward to seeing our trainers, whom we will gain as a result of this training, in our mosques and educational institutions as soon as possible.”