ELCJHL Deaf Ministry Completes Food Preservation Course

The ELCJHL Diaconal Ministry, in cooperation with the Palingual Centre and the Our Authentic Heritage Association organized a specialized training course in food preservation for the Deaf Ministry under the supervision of trainer Mona Matar. This course is part of ongoing efforts to empower our deaf group and enhance their practical and life skills.

Over five sessions, participants learned different ways to prepare and preserve homemade food in a healthy and safe manner. Practical training included making different types of pickles, preparing jam, preserving white cheese, making ghee, and crafting traditional soap using simple and readily available, local ingredients.

Given the challenging economic conditions and rising cost of living, this course aimed to equip people with practical skills that can help them save money as well as preserve their cultural heritage. It also emphasized the importance of learning how to preserve food for extended periods outside of refrigeration, fostering self-reliance and making the most of available household resources. The course also encouraged participants to consider small home-based projects that could provide additional income for themselves and their families.

It was a joy to experience the interest and enthusiasm our Deaf Ministry participants showed during these sessions. These new skills and experience along with the participation and teamwork that was fostered during this course will go with them into the future.

This course was part of the ELCJHL's ongoing mission to support vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, and our vision of providing inclusive educational and training spaces that enable people to develop their abilities and enhance their active participation in society.

Thank you to our partners with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for their support of the Deaf Ministry.