News
The Ability Hub hosts inaugural cook-off
A newly founded non-profit organization, the Ability Hub, recently organized a cook-off event in Silverton.
The cook-off, held on September 29 at the Ditsong Museum in Silverton, featured a competition between hearing and non-hearing contestants in honor of Deaf Awareness Month. The theme of the cooking competition was “Cooking Up Awareness: Stirring Conversations, Bridging Deaf and Hearing Worlds.”
The participating teams were:
– Ida and David Nkosi from Atteridgeville
– Tamar Jaffer and Nadia Achmad from Queenswood
– Sonika and Zanika Kruger from Meyerspark
Jaffer and Achmad, both hearing, emerged as the winners of the competition. Their prizes included a 30-minute photography session sponsored by KhoibrewMzansi, a 60-minute full body massage sponsored by Reokheple Luxury Spa, and flowers by Forever Flowers.
“As much as they can’t hear, their meals are fantastic, and it was an honor to be competing with them. We’d do it again anytime,” Achmad expressed.
The NPO founders, Zena and Ariel Forbes, a married couple, reached out to the local deaf community in Silverton to organize the cook-off event. Zena Forbes highlighted the organization’s focus on bringing together deaf and hearing individuals to avoid any sense of isolation. She emphasized dispelling misconceptions about the deaf community and providing equal opportunities for all.
The Forbes also operate a media company that supports disabled residents in pursuing media-related careers, ensuring that their disabilities do not hinder their creativity.
Zena Forbes, who is currently completing her final level towards a Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting at Wits, aims to be a resource for those interested in learning about the deaf community. She emphasizes the importance of empowering deaf individuals and providing various opportunities for their personal and professional growth.
The cook-off event, sponsored by Fruit Stop and Pick n Pay, was intended to empower the deaf community rather than evoke pity. The event also aimed to educate the local community on proper communication and interaction with deaf individuals.
One of the judges for the event was former DTV host, Candice Morgan, a renowned figure in the deaf community. Morgan underscored the significance of Deaf Awareness Month in promoting the capabilities of deaf individuals and advocated for increased resources for deaf education and empowerment.
Morgan emphasized the importance of acceptance, empowerment, and education for the deaf community to foster understanding and open doors to employment and opportunities.
The Ability Hub was acknowledged for its unconventional approach to raising awareness by Morgan and others in the deaf community.
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