Unam student advocates for Namibian Sign Language

A student at the University of Namibia (Unam) has embraced Namibian Sign Language (NSL) as a purpose-driven mission, calling for greater awareness, resources and representation.Jane Muhepa enrolled in NSL through Unam’s department of humanities and social sciences.Although NSL is offered only as a minor subject to education students, Muhepa says the subject has evolved far beyond a study requirement. What began as an academic interest has since grown into a personal passion, intertwining academic curiosity and cultural insights.“I think it was really God’s will for me to choose NSL,” Muhepa said. “In class I learned more about the deaf culture and the challenges faced by the deaf community – it became something meaningful," she said.With that foundation, Muhepa took her message onto the beauty pageant circuit. She credits pageantry with amplifying her voice and combining artistry with advocacy.More awareness and resources needed Despite national efforts, including parliamentary proposals to officially recognise NSL as a national language and to appoint interpreters for live parliamentary proceedings, Muhepa says challenges remain. These include limited public interest, scarce training resources and a shortage of skilled interpreters.“People assume that sign language is for deaf people only; there simply aren’t enough trained interpreters or resources available in Namibia,” she said. “But instead of being discouraged, these barriers push me to work even harder to create change."Muhepa’s training takes place in a real-world context. In her interpreting class, deaf community visitors are regularly invited to engage with students.Notably, she draws inspiration from Miss South Africa 2023, hailed as the first hearing-impaired woman to win the title, a milestone she described as “a victory for representation”.“To accomplish more, we have to make sure stages are accessible, that there are interpreters at events, and that training spaces are inclusive," she said. In Muhepa’s view, media and fashion also play decisive roles in normalising inclusion.

Unam student advocates for Namibian Sign Language

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-30

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Unam student advocates for Namibian Sign Language

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-30

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