Deaf and Destined to Bridge the World | Isidore Niyongabo | TEDxSDSU

Isidore Niyangabo explains the story of how he became deaf and how he chose not to be a victim and be an activism for the deaf in Africa. He is signing while his translator narrates this eye-opening and incredible story

Born and raised in Burundi, Isidore Niyongabo has been a champion for human rights and an advocate for access to education for Deaf children and hard of hearing children in developing countries. While growing up in a rural village rearing family sheep and goats when not in school, he became stricken with Spinal Meningitis at ten years old, and become deaf. While balancing his full-time job as the Human Resources Manager for Convo Communications, LLC, Isidore continues to pay it forward as the founding Executive Director of International Deaf Education, Advocacy, and Leadership (IDEAL), Inc., a San Diego based non-profit organization that empowers Deaf youth globally through provision of scholarships, leadership capacity building and human rights advocacy. In addition, he continues to inspire thousands of people through his extraordinary example of perseverance, self-reliance, enthusiastic effort, courage, and hope.


This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx