33 SWD Students Benefit as Rotary Clubs Unveil Renovated Gymnasium

The Rotary Club of Le Réduit, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Tamatave and Rotary District 9220, has successfully renovated a gymnasium for students at the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf (SWD) in Mauritius. The project, funded through their combined efforts, was officially inaugurated by District Governor Bernard Leung-Son, with the Vice President of the Republic, Robert Hungley, also in attendance.

Deterioration Hampers Student Activities

The gymnasium, originally constructed in 2009, had fallen into a state of disrepair due to age and wear.

This deterioration had prevented the 33 students currently enrolled at the school from using the facility for physical education and dance performances.

The renovation work undertaken by the Rotary clubs included installing new flooring and lighting, fitting mirrors, and repairing the roof.

The school’s director, Arrtee Bissoonauthsing, expressed her gratitude, stating that the project would have been impossible without the funding from Rotary.

A spokesperson for the Rotary Club of Le Réduit emphasised the importance of the space for the students.

“For the deaf students, the performing arts hall is more than just a space; it is a sanctuary where creativity flourishes, confidence blossoms, and the power of communication transcends spoken words through mime, dance, and visual storytelling.”

The statement added that physical education and performing arts are part of the school’s curriculum, contributing to the students’ “motor, cognitive, psychological, and social development.”

A Centre for the Deaf

The Society for the Welfare of the Deaf is located on Pope Hennessy Street in Beau-Bassin. The institution, once a school, has since been transformed into a centre offering specialised services for the hearing-impaired. It has been renamed the Jomadar Centre for the Hearing Impaired.

Source: Le Mauricien