THE Seeing Eyes – Signing Hands (SESH) Inc., led by its founder Tracey Cholmondeley, has profoundly impacted the lives of many individuals in the deaf community. This nonprofit organisation provides educational programs that improve the quality of deaf education, offer sign language training (SLT), and facilitate employment opportunities for deaf workers, along with other specialised training.

SESH is dedicated to improving the lives of the underprivileged, disadvantaged and marginalised. It plays a crucial role in increasing public awareness about the issue faced by deaf persons in society.
Cholmondeley told the Sunday Chronicle that SESH is a shining example of self-sustainability, as it does not depend on funding from the government, but instead is funded through the donations of citizens.

“SESH runs solely on the generosity of individuals, volunteers, families, friends of friends, organisations and businesses who donate goods to be delivered to the Deaf Awareness Week (DAW) activities which are held once a year or sometimes semi-annually. Proceeds from their fundraising sales and donations go toward providing important educational services for programme participants by helping them get back on their feet and live a productive life instead of depending on or living with their parents or guardians,” she said.

Providing some background on what led to the start of SESH, Cholmondeley said, “It was the Guyana Deaf Mission/Changed Life Deaf Church, run by two Americans, Pastor Lawrence Hallahan and his wife, Mary, who asked me to help them on their first Deaf Awareness Day event held in 2006. At that time, I still resided in the USA and was visiting Guyana on a short summer vacation. They needed my team and me to help by preparing and planning for Guyana’s first Deaf Awareness Week event that followed in 2007.”

She remarked that it was the first time the deaf Guyanese community had the opportunity to hear the diverse experiences of deaf Americans. She emphasised that it was a valuable learning experience and the start of something promising. SESH was subsequently established in 2010 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organisation in the United States.
“In July 2016, SESH Inc. – Guyana, a non-profit/non-governmental organisation, was established and registered under the provisions of the Income Tax Act. SESH was also incorporated under the Companies Act of Guyana in June 2016,” Cholmondeley shared.

She added, “One thing I have discovered through my former sign language participants who wrote a course and instructor evaluation forms is that they would want this SESH Inc to be in more collaboration with the Ministry of Education and conduct a diploma programme in sign language so that more special needs teachers can be trained in sign language to communicate their particular needs or deaf children.”

The founder leads each cohort of students with support from other deaf teaching assistants, substitute teachers, and tutors as needed. Within SESH, Cholmondeley serves as the Managing Director for the Sign Language Community, where she teaches sign language classes.
These classes are held in person, and deaf instructors educate hearing participants using either the manual method or speechreading (lip-reading), creating positive learning experiences for everyone involved.

She explained, “Sign language is a visual language that uses hands, shapes, movements, and facial expressions to communicate words and sentences. Our level classes are beginners (Part 1), intermediate (Part 2) and Advanced (Part 3). We also offer an Interpreter Education Programme.”
Cholmondeley emphasised the importance of learning sign language in person from a deaf teacher, noting that this, combined with immersion in voice-off environments, is the most effective way to master the language.

She explained that sign language is visual rather than vocal, making online classes less beneficial, as communication relies heavily on hand gestures, facial expressions, and body movements. With an increasing demand for online sign language classes, Tracey is exploring how to navigate this new challenge.
Over the past ten years, her courses have benefitted 96 participants. Each class lasts 10 to 12 weeks and is offered two to three times a year, depending on interest. There are no prerequisites for these classes; everyone is welcome.

To register, individuals can request an application form or come on the first day of class to complete the registration process.
For more information persons must WhatsApp text (592) 658-7745 or email tracey.chumlee@gmail.com . In addition they can visit Seeing Eyes – Signing Hands on Facebook.