 Hi, how are you? I hope you're doing well. My name is Ndanya and welcome to S.P.M.Biz. Today we are at USIU for the Deaf Awareness Week Celebration and here I am with Shalene Ruto. How are you? Hi, how are you? Nice to meet you too and you look amazing. Thank you, you too. First, I've seen you work a lot with the youth. How has it been so far? So far I can say so good. I'm learning, we're learning each other. It's a very good thing. And today you're here as one of the guests because right? I'd like to know, so far, before that I've just been told that you studied sign language, right? Yes, yes, I studied Kenyan sign language, not just sign language. Kenyan sign language, how was it? It was a good experience. It stretched me, I learnt a lot of patience. It was not easy the whole time but I really enjoyed my time learning. Yes. What made you choose Kenyan Sign Language? I interacted with Deaf Girl earlier this year and was very fascinated in how she was able to communicate to me through an interpreter and I wanted to be able, the next time I meet her, to be able to communicate with her directly. Yes, yes, yes. I'd like to know, because I was listening to the Deaf people inside and they say they have several challenges. How can they be empowered? How can the Deaf youth be empowered in the country? You know first, one of the ways all of us, each one of us in our own way can empower the Deaf communities first to remember that there are people just like you and me until you need to communicate with a Deaf person, you won't know that they are Deaf. So it would be good that we don't shy away from interacting with Deaf people. When you realize someone is Deaf, don't pull away, instead get to know them. They are always very patient and they want to interact with hearing people as well. So that's one of the ways, just that interaction, creating that warm environment for them, that is one of the ways. For the Deaf community, we really need to support them in terms of education and I'm so happy with USIU and MasterCard Foundation that they've sponsored some Deaf people to actually earn degrees. Right now for us, maybe we are looking at when you have a degree, it's like the most basic level of education nowadays. But for the Deaf community, they still have a long way to go. They have so many challenges in accessing education and because it's a communication challenge. You see other disabilities, like being physically disabled, your challenge is movement. But for the Deaf community, the challenge is communication and you only learn through communication. You see, you need to be communicated to so that you can learn. So we really need to support our Deaf young people and we've really improved over the years from what I've been seeing, but we still have a long way to go, yeah. Okay, I won't keep you for long, but I follow you on Instagram, shall we? And I saw the other day you were doing farming, you were in the farm. Are you planning to take it seriously? I have already taken it seriously. I'm not planning to, it already happened. I already take it very seriously. I go to the farmers often as I can and I try to balance between my work in the city and going to the farm. I mean, maybe I'll move to the farm. You're considering it? I'm seriously considering it because it's so fulfilling. It's work that is very fulfilling. You see the results of what you're doing and it's very calming and peaceful. No one is hooting at you. No one is traffic, no one is bombing you. No one is going to go to the sun. It's a very nice, peaceful life. And also when I'm in the farm, it's time to reflect. I'm able to make very strategic moves. It's really so nice. I encourage you to also consider it. How long have you done it? I've done it seriously for the past one year. Last stage when I started taking it very seriously. So I've done it for the past one year. So you're farming? So now my major thing in the farm is beekeeping. I'm still learning, like I still go to the farm and I'm picking to learn different plants that are there and I have so many young people who are helping me to do it. So for now I'm doing beekeeping as my major project as I still learn about the different plants and the different crops that I can get into here. As we wind up, what's next for Shalindruta? What do we expect? I'm about to launch my strategic plan. I'm so excited. In September I'll be launching my strategic plan. So look out for it so that you can see how we can work together. I will for sure. Thank you so much Shalindruta. So much as well. Asante.