On her graduation day in Bluefields, Nicaragua, 19-year-old Shaira Morales has a lot to celebrate. Over the past year, she earned a technical degree in IT Administration, became a mother, learned to dance and was crowned winner of a pageant. All while overcoming the challenges of being a hearing-impaired, indigenous young woman. 

Shaira is one of four deaf and hard-of-hearing women who graduated in October 2019 from the IT Administration program at the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast (URACCAN). All four received scholarships to pursue their technical degrees through the USAID Aprendo y Emprendo program. ¨Graduation is another opportunity to develop and continue studying," Shaira says.

Shaira says despite barriers to communication with her hearing peers, she made strong friendships at URACCAN.

“Three years later, many of my classmates know sign language,” she says. “We became friends and they understand my disability very well.” 

Throughout their time at URACCAN, Shaira and the other deaf and hard-of-hearing students were supported by Fatima Tenorio, an interpreter at the school. Aprendo y Emprendo developed a sign language course and training for teachers and faculty so that they can better serve and educate students with disabilities. 

“The experience with these young people has been awesome,” Tenorio says. “Their studies are challenging, but they are always striving to keep going and keep focused on their future and their families. 

Juan Manuel Sánchez, Aprendo y Emprendo Deputy Chief of Party, says the program has worked to build youth leadership and close the gaps in access to education that often hold youth with disabilities back.

“Working to promote gender equality and inclusion is essential for youth to develop their full potential and become solid and successful people who contribute to their communities,” Sánchez says.

Shaira, who’s from the Miskito indigenous community of Sandy Bay Sirpi in the Southern Caribbean Coast region, built her own leadership skills and confidence through extracurricular activities like dance, ultimately participating in — and winning — the Miss URACCAN pag-eant.

“Shaira is a positive student,” Tenorio says. “She is the first hearing-impaired Miss URACCAN Bluefields. She learned to dance without being able to hear. She learned how to express herself without being able to speak in the same way as the other students.” 

Shaira says that raising a 3-month-old isn’t easy, and it can be difficult for her to interpret her daughter’s needs. But she plans to teach her daughter sign language and be a role model as she grows up.

"Learning to dance, studying, and being a mother have all been challenging,” she says. “Today, I thank God for everything I have.”

After graduating, Shaira is beginning her job search and hopes to eventually go back to school for her bachelor’s degree. She acknowl-edges that there are new challenges ahead of her as she enters the workforce, but she has the confidence, technical skills and leadership to succeed.

Contact: Janey Fugate, JaneyF@CreativeDC.com