Timor-Leste
In Karwar, sign language becomes a tool for expression and growth for children at Asha Niketan Deaf School
On September 23, the International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated, established by the United Nations to raise awareness about the right of deaf people to communicate, study, and participate fully in the life of society. In 2026, the Day is dedicated to the human rights of deaf people.
An observance that, in India, finds a concrete story in Asha Niketan, “House of Hope”, a residential school for deaf children in Karwar, Karnataka.
Here, sign language is not merely an instrument for learning. It is a way to tell the story of the world. This is shown by the story of Prasad James, a student at the school, who chose to entrust to painting what he cannot hear.
Prasad does not hear the roar of the sea in Karwar, but he knows its images. The waves, the fishermen with their boats, the tourists, the sunset on the coast: everything enters his paintings. When he narrates his works, he does so through sign language, while a teacher translates his words. The sea, therefore, becomes color even before sound.
Prasad is one of the 48 children welcomed by Asha Niketan, founded in 1996 near the coast and now also serving children from rural areas of neighboring Maharashtra. The school is supported by the Karwar Diocesan Development Council and entrusted to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, who live with the children and teach them sign language.
Education does not stop at academic subjects. Drawing, painting, handicrafts, dance, sports, and practical activities are part of the journey, with the goal of helping the youth develop their abilities and become self-reliant. The students also participate in artistic and athletic competitions at the local and state levels.
For Sister Tresa Irudayasamy, one of the religious sisters teaching at the school, entering the world of deaf children is not always easy. But there is a language that overcomes every barrier: that of care. «Our universal language is love and care», explained the religious sister.
This is perhaps the simplest and most profound lesson of Asha Niketan: even before learning to speak with hands, one must learn to listen with eyes. Because every child has something to say. And sometimes, it is the hands that find the words.
Image created digitally by spazio + spadoni
Source: Asha Niketan
