Karma for Cara Foundation microgrant recipients have competed in an application process alongside other young people who have spearheaded exceptional service projects that benefit their communities. In order to qualify for a K4C award, an applicant must be 18 years of age or younger, and the project must take place in the US.
K4C microgrant recipient Carole (16) from NJ and two other young women decided to implement their project, Beyond English, to integrate American Sign Language (ASL) into the everyday school life of second-grade students at Slackwood Elementary School. They believed that ASL could bridge the gap for students from foreign countries who weren’t comfortable immediately learning English. The trio hoped that Beyond English might help students who experienced miscommunication during the pandemic while wearing masks and bring awareness & inclusivity to those in the community who already used ASL.
| What inspired you to start this project? | The inspiration for this project struck when two other girls and I were thinking about what to make a shark tank on. We were attending a full-week, on-campus college readiness program we could attend on a scholarship through Rise Community Services Partnership. Throughout the week, we were given the time to think about a problem that troubles the community, and one of the first ones we brought up was the language barrier. Being unable to communicate or express yourself can stifle creativity, lower self-esteem, and foster a sense of loneliness. We knew many children and families struggled to reach out or fit in, and we wanted to ease that chasm of miscommunication. Fortunately, our community already has a strong ESL program, so we had to find another way to promote communication. Then it struck us; Sign Language. That would be a revolutionary way to close all language barriers. There were thousands of varying languages and only one sign language; if everyone could learn sign language, then we would have a universal method of communication! Alternatively, so we thought. When we went to fact-check ourselves, sign language was very varied, each differently distinct from the Language associated with it. Such as ASL (American Sign Language) directly correlates to American English. That revelation embarrassed us but also brought a different, more discreet issue to light. Another community had been struggling, and that was when we changed trajectory and focused our research on the plight of the hard-of-hearing community. We learned how much they struggled through Covid-19 since they could not read lips, and hardly anyone beyond the community knew ASL. Even within the community, some did not see the point in learning the Language because it was not well-known. So then, we decided to help ease those troubles by teaching ASL to the youth. In doing so, we bring attention to a neglected language, and the youth grow up with the benefits of understanding basic ASL. We agreed that it was important for the youth to be exposed to this so that they could grow up alongside it. Our research found that growing up knowing ASL improves memory, cognitive skills, and the understanding of the English language. After that, it was pure planning and outreach. |
| While working on your project, what surprised you? | The trickiest part was to contact the people who could help move the project along. However, we were pleasantly surprised by how many willing participants were in the community and the student’s receptiveness and willingness to learn ASL. |
| What do you feel you learned from this experience? | I learned how to best reach students and understand what they look for in an education. I also gained a deeper understanding of information regarding ASL and the language itself. |
| How did Karma for Cara impact your project? | Karma for Cara gave me the means to establish ASL in the school. From posters on the walls, stickers to be given out, and good-quality video lesson plans every week. All of that was made possible by the resources provided by Karma for Cara. |
| How will your project continue to impact others? | The lesson plan spans a school year and will be reused for the second-grade class every year. This project will serve as an introduction to the language of ASL and foster their curiosity. The weekly lessons will play every year for the second-grade class, and the posters will hang around their classrooms for consistent reminders. |
