MNI Stories

Image of a flow chart entitled "How A Law is Passed". The left side of the flow chart shows how a bill passes through the Philippines House of Representatives, the right side shows how the same bill passes through the Philippines Senate. In both the House and the Senate, a Representative or Senator writes and files a bill, which is then assigned a number starting with HB (for the House version of the bill) or SB (for the Senate version of the bill). Next, different versions of the bill are written by different Representatives or Senators, and the first "Reading" of the bill is held in the House and in the Senate. Then the House version of the bill is assigned to a House of Representatives Committee while the Senate version of the bill is assigned to a Senate Committee. Next, each Committee calls a Public Hearing. The bill goes to a Technical Working Group (TWG) in the House and in the Senate. Then a second Reading is held and the House Committee and the Senate Committee each approve their version of the bill. Then there is a third Reading and Plenary Debate of each version of the bill. If the bill is approved in both the House and the Senate, then the two versions of the bill are brought together in the Conference Committee so that the Committee can merge the House and Senate versions of the bill. Finally, the President can sign the bill into law. To the left of the flow chart is a note that says "Approved and passed HB 7503". To the right side of the flow chart, there is a photograph of a group of people with excited facial expressions. Also to the right of the flow chart are two notes, one saying "SB1455 approved in the TWG level" and the other note saying "2nd Reading Passed" (in reference to the Senate version of the bill). Below the flow chart is another message that says, "The lobbying and advocacy is not yet but we are one step CLOSER! The Philippine Federation of the Deaf needs your support. #SaveOurFilipinoSignLanguage"

Passing the Filipino Sign Language Act

The president of the Philippines Federation of the Deaf explains the process for passing the Filipino Sign Language Act.

Screen shot from video clip in which Norma Moran explains her experience as a young volunteer in Kenya

Young Volunteer in Kenya: Norma Morán’s experience

Sometimes experienced professionals don’t want younger people’s ideas. Norma Morán explains her experience as a young volunteer in Kenya.

Power of Empowerment

Empowering deaf women in Africa – what happens?

A woman and a man stand next to a sheet of flip chart paper that is filled with drawings and a few words written in Vietnamese and English. The man is signing to people off camera, as the woman looks on.

CBM Representatives Meet Deaf Leaders from Vietnam

Two Deaf leaders from Vietnam, Huong and Linh, share what they know with two CBM staff members, Elizabeth Lockwood and Sian Tesni.

Man is seated in front of a wall, signing to the camera.

Habel Ouma: Deaf Rights Advocacy in Kenya

Habel Ouma, Deaf rights advocate in Kenya, promotes deaf education & employment, justice for gender-based violence, & sign interpreting.

Photo of a woman making the "I love you" hand shape.

Dulamsuren Jigjid: Mongolian Deaf Leader

Mongolian Deaf leader Dulamsuren Jigjid shares her story of how she became an empowered Deaf woman leader. She is advancing disability rights in Mongolia.

A challenge the deaf community faces in Indonesia

Laura, a leader in the deaf community in Indonesia talks about an issue deaf teachers face.

Screen shot from a video in which Broad Street Media interviews Lionel Smith

Lionel Smith Interview by Broad Street Media in Barbados

Watch an interview with Lionel Smith, who was president of the New Life Deaf Club in Barbados from 2013 to 2018. Shows history of the club.

Screen shot of video featuring Wadud, a Deaf Bangladesh leader. We see Wadud seated, facing the camera.

Wadud, Deaf Bangladesh leader and supervisor

Watch as Deaf Bangladesh leader, Wadud, explains his family business and his role in a local self-help organization, the Saidpur Deaf Club.

Lesson learned? Ask people want they want and need. Imagine how excited your home community will be knowing that they are collecting goods which will be appreciated and used to make a real difference in people’s lives. Don’t send “Nana gifts.” Ask first.

Latina Woman in Kenya

What does it mean to be a proud Latina woman in Kenya–a country that does not recognize your identity? Watch Norma Moran’s story.

At the left side, a man looks at the camera while signing "information". At the right side, a woman facing the camera is also signing. In the middle, the text says "Sign Your Name Challenge".

#SignYourName: Raising Deaf Awareness

Two organizations launched the #SignYourNameChallenge project to raise awareness about deafness and sign language rights in Rwanda.