Workshop offer giving deaf woman new hope

By Phoebe Gwangilo
The call of a deaf woman has been heard by a Port Moresby entrepreneur who has come to her aid to give her a better shot at life.
Christine Ameua, owner of IMake Productions, came into contact with Varo Matagu last week at the two-day Apec Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy southern region workshop and expo in Port Moresby.
Matagu attended the workshop as a member of the National Capital District Deaf Association and her participation impressed Ameua enough to invite her to join IMake and be involved in its life skills training programme and services.
IMake is a beauty, cosmetics and personal care business based in Waigani.
Ameua’s Facebook page describes her as owning her own business and the director of IMake Productions, a business which also offers life skills training in things like the making of coconut oil and soap, flower arrangement and candle-making, among other things. Matagu will be involved in sewing.
Ameua’s offer met the expectations of the deaf association. The expo helped the women who attended to build networks with other women and organisations in the small and medium-sized business sector, said Hilda Igo, the programme coordinator for sign language and interpretation for the Department of Community Development.
Ameua, who knows a bit of signlanguage, said she was looking forward to giving Matagu the chance to learn practical skills.
“I believe in giving and in my business and company we want to impart and I’m thankful to Hilda who introduced these ladies,” Ameua said.
Matagu “will be involved in sewing and and will also learn how to make oil, soap and do Aroma touch massage”.