ASSOCIATION OF THE COMMUNITY POPE JOHN XXIII

Spirituality

Project Sol works with children, teens and adults with hearing impairments and their families, listening to their problems and needs. It approaches them not only to give assistance, regarding them as people with limitations: we seek their potentialities and gifts which usually are underestimated and discriminated against.

We are moved by the spirit of sharing and the love for diversity. We try to host one of the provocative realities that exist, that disturb and question social models based on appearance, efficiency, success and power.

We remain at their side in order to let this reality becomes a resource for everyone, because sharing with people with different abilities let develop the most significant experiences of community life based on principles of solidarity and justice.

The struggles of recent years have led to growth and maturation of society: the achievements in the field of integration, improved access, mobility, improved quality of life for everyone. A simple example can be a mother with a child in the stroller that has no difficulties to go beyond the architectural barriers. This is an example that should sensitize, raise awareness and achieve new conquests.

Project Sol is an option for those who experience the world of silence and those who chose to face this challenge.

Finality

The project promotes educational activities, awareness, spreading of the subject, care, spiritual formation, social integration, consulting, support for families, contacts with similar realities of families dealing with deaf people inside and outside Chile.

The project was called to life in 2004 with the help of professional and qualified people with experience in the world of deafness. It helped to spread the fundamental importance of the family for the integral development of a child, so we want to offer educational, psychological, spiritual, and material support to parents of deaf children.

The presence of deafness in the family may make it more difficult for the relations between adults or between adults and children, misunderstandings and difficulties in realizing what the needs of children and young people are in the context of their development can often occur: they must overcome obstacles and crises.

Project Sol wants to motivate parents to confront with the problems of their children, with the help of people who have experience with the world of deafness.

The project conducted training workshops on culture and sign language for educators, cooperators, relatives, professionals in various fields, so they can help the families and help with problems that occur in the world of hearing impairment.

• LINK
• Proyecto Sol and the Community of Pope John XXIII
• Care of Deafs and their Families
• Pope Benedict XVI meeting in Naples
• Letter for the Recognition of the Sign Language by the Church (available in italian)
• Father Oreste Benzi
• Saint Filippo Smaldone
• Father Agustín Yanes Valer