Study of civic and electoral education in Kinshasa at the time of the elections of 2006 by the UPESC (Union of Parents and Deaf Children of Congo)

This study proposes to analyze the publicity campaigns carried out within the framework of civic and electoral education to Kinshasa by ONG UPESC during the elections of 2006. The present study concerns the field of the interpersonal communication which relates to the study of the direct communication between the people. The expression ‘interpersonal communication’ in this study is related more specifically to the concept of interaction. This one comprises the idea of a mutual relation, and of reciprocal action which supposes the ‘co presence’ or the face to face interaction.

The interactions between the deaf people on one hand and the interaction between them and the people who can use their hearing abilities in the context of the elections are analyzed with these kinds of studies. It is not a question of considering the individual, but the relations that are established with others and the relationship with the country needs to be analyzed. This report forms part of the paradigm of complexity inherent in the study of the human and social phenomena. The world faces many challenges in the twenty-first century and among them are: poverty, AIDS and other diseases, violations of human rights, the destruction of the ozone layer and the nuclear weapons.

All these scourges are seriously threatening the life of man. To fight against these evils, various activities are conducted throughout the world, which require the involvement of all without exception. He observed sadly that some social groups for various reasons are excluded or marginalized and are not consulted either / or included in the various projects or programs that are developed or implemented. Even for actions initiated on their behalf, they are rarely or never involved in achieving them. In the category of marginalized people, we can cite people living with HIV / AIDS, indigenous peoples (Pygmies, Aborigines), people living with disabilities (physical, mental, sensory, etc.).

The number of people living with disabilities, for example deaf people, is estimated to be 70 million by the International Foundation for the Deaf. Statistics show that about 2 / 3 of the deaf are from the developing countries. In DRC, people with disabilities amounted to 10% of the total population. These 10% are as follows: 5% of people with physical disability, 3% of blind and 2% impaired. With a population estimated at more than 60 million inhabitants, the number of hearing impaired in the DRC amount to more than 1 .200.000, or about 10% of the population of Kinshasa.

Deaf life in Africa, including DRC, is regarded as nonsense. Their education is violated and care is neglected. The deaf is considered both at national and sub-family as a man without access to the benefits of social life. Today over a million of deaf children have no access to training. As in many countries, the DRC, especially deaf people are facing barriers in communication and information. These people suffer from a considerable lack of information without access to television or radio, or the word of mouth or even to the press, syntax and grammar of sign language, and language of communication.

Tags: AIDS, interpersonal communication, human rights, deaf children