Nanyeni Paulie Linekela
Nanyeni Paulie Linekela
WindhoekNamibia
About me
My Story
22 years ago, I was born, a young determined man, the lastborn in a family of seven. I grew up in Walvis Bay, in Namibia, Southern West Africa. Life
Before my Hearing Loss
I started primary school in the north of Namibia aged 11. Throughout my primary education I had normal hearing and was sharp in mastering my studies. In 1997, having passed primary school with brilliant marks, I was admitted to secondary school. This pleased all of my family, because they knew I would even learn more at a secondary school. This was a boarding school, and life there was really good. I found myself mastering good English and made a great impression on the school’s teachers.
The start of my hearing loss
Life in this school was short-lived, because during the school holiday I contracted malaria while at the family farm. It was the last day of the holidays, and I was in my way home to start school when a serious dizziness caught me.
My face started swelling up and I cannot forget that monster-like face I carried to the clinic! I started to hear people as if speaking from a distance. The sounds of their voices were very low. I realised that there was something wrong in my left ear. It sounded like a fly, but it never came out! The next morning when I woke up, there was no more sound. The room and the surroundings were quiet. I could only hear a song playing in the back of my brain that I liked and had sung out loud sometimes!
From the day I was sent home, I lived optimistically that the next day my hearing should be restored and that I could go back to school. But I later realised that I would have to live my entire life with no more hearing and I started to adapt.I started to learn to lip read, which was simple and fun. When I stayed at home with my mother, I had to follow her in the fields. When she asked me to do something, I made myself repeat the whole statement, and if I mastered the sentence well, I rewarded myself with fists in the air!
Two semesters of school had passed and l had not attended, which was very frustrating! I wanted to go back to school but later when my father took me, they told him that I had to wait for the next year to be sent to Eluwa Special School, a school for hearing impaired learners.
Studying at Eluwa School
In order to study at Eluwa school, first I had to learn sign language. I found this really difficult at first and it took me time to accept the language. Nevertheless I persevered and once I had learnt, I felt happy with it.
The competition between learners at this school was very strong. Having been hearing for over 15 years, I knew how to use the English language. I took the grade 10 exam and passed. Since 1999, I am the only candidate to pass grade ten from Eluwa Special School!
Life after Eluwa
With my junior secondary certificate results, I was ready to face the challenge of grades 11 and 12, but I found myself at home, as there is no higher education for deaf learners in Namibia. I was angry, but this realisation taught me to be as tough as I am today. I decided not to let anything stand in my way and to pursue my goals till I accomplish them.
In the end, I did complete my education. With help of the inspector of special education, in 2001 I gained admission to my former secondary school. I was in a mainstream school without special preparation being made for me. I took notes, used lip reading and confronted teachers after every period. This became my routine. The atmosphere at the school was excellent and this helped me to achieve excellent results. I often came second in my class and finally became the only hearing impaired person to be awarded a grade 12 certificate.
University Life
After graduating from secondary school, I applied to the University of Namibia to further my studies, and am now studying for a degree in education. I am not just pursuing this degree for personal reasons, but I’m doing this for my country, and for all learners who are hearing impaired. I feel very proud to have attained this level of education in my own country.
My life has completely changed since I started university. It’s really good for me. I receive a lot of support from the faculty of education staff, in particular Ms February, a member of staff has been a really strong shoulder to lean on in. She has even started a sign language course to help us communicate more effectively. She taught me to appreciate that in the world there are lots of people who can treat you like a mother! In general, I have found the whole university community to be good people. I communicate with everyone in the same polite and friendly way, which has helped me a lot. One thing would improve my university life would be a laptop. This would mean that I could download lecture notes and use class time to lip-read the lecturers.
My family and friends
A vote of appreciation from the bottom of my heart goes to my family, especially my late father, who I wanted to live longer so that I could care for him one day too. My mother has also helped me a lot and always ensured that I had the right jersey every day and that there was food waiting me after school! My brother also took time to help me with multiplication every weekend, and my friends were always ready to answer my questions.
My future
After the completion of my degree, which is not that far away, I will work in the Ministry of Education, where I will focus on upgrading special education in my country. I want to give future generations of hearing impaired children a better education. I am especially excited about the developments in ICT that make it possible for us to learn from people all over the world who have a lot of experience in the field.
I also really enjoy writing; so far I have written six storybooks that many of my friends have read. I have a ambition that by the time I leave the university, I will find my self behind a computer with my hands dancing on the keyboard, trying to complete something that I will call “My Book”.
Currently I’m the chairperson of the Windhoek Deaf Association, and the vice chairperson of Namibian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD). My position in this association dates back to the beginning of 2003, when I came to live in Windhoek. It is very good to be part of the body that represents the interest of the deaf people in my country. My vision for this is to see NNAD grow bigger and bigger. Within five years, I see myself in parliament. From there, I would influence my comrades to take up deaf people’s issues.
My dream is that the whole world will be able to recognise me for myself, and not just as a person who is deaf!
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