Management Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • ABOUT
  • KIMSOM
  • TRAINING
  • MEMBERSHIP
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • News
  • Special Features
  • Leadership
    • Perspective
    • Smart Leadership
    • Strategy
    • Tactics
  • Business
    • Money Matters
    • Smart Solutions
    • Investing
    • Personal Finance
    • Wealth Creation
  • Management
    • The Big Idea
    • Office Diary
    • Hands on Management
    • Future of Work
  • Lifestyle & Travel
    • Wellness
    • Travel
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
magazines
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • News
  • Special Features
  • Leadership
    • Perspective
    • Smart Leadership
    • Strategy
    • Tactics
  • Business
    • Money Matters
    • Smart Solutions
    • Investing
    • Personal Finance
    • Wealth Creation
  • Management
    • The Big Idea
    • Office Diary
    • Hands on Management
    • Future of Work
  • Lifestyle & Travel
    • Wellness
    • Travel
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
Management Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Uncategorized

KIM deaf student clinches Miss Deaf Africa

Denis Kiptoo by kimmag
September 18, 2019
Reading Time: 9 mins read
0

Catherine Ngovi, Miss Deaf Africa

Catherine Ngovi, a Business Management student at Kenya Institute of Management shines at Miss and Mister Deaf International 2019 beauty pageantry held in St Petersburg, Russia.

RELATED POSTS

Business leadership in times of political crisis

The place of competition agencies in the transition to a circular economy

Why affirmative action in Kenya may be a mistake

BY CAROLINE MWENDWA

Speak of grit, resilience and focus. Catherine Ngovi, the reigning Miss Deaf Kenya and recently crowned Miss Deaf Africa in the Miss and Mister Deaf International 2019 gala in Russia, is a student at the Kenya Institute of Management. Her story is one of exemplary passionate driven life, whose force is unstoppable; not even by a hearing disability, which now appears to us a point that distinguishes her go getter attitude. Discovering her interests early in life, while in Primary school, Ngovi, kept at what she loved to do; modelling. “Ngovi’s keenness on hygiene and sense of style struck me while she was still very young, in class five I remember,” recalls her mother, Christine Ngovi whose account of what led to Catherine’s condition reveals that she was born deaf, and as the parents, they got to discover it while she was eight months. “Coming to terms with the fact that our daughter couldn’t hear, was not the easiest thing for us, but we accepted it and committed to do our best to see that she lives a fulfilling life,” says her mother.

Beating the odds

Catherine’s talent could not be dimmed by her disability. While at the Machakos School for the deaf, one of the teachers took interest in her outstanding knack and ineptitude skill in modelling. She did all she could to keep the flame burning. “I remember she could at times come home with handmade garments that they used to practice runway modelling. The teacher also taught her dancing as part of it,” says Christine, her mother.

Christine however reckons that in most schools, the art of modelling is not so much encouraged as other sports such as ball games are prioritised.

A date with rejection

Buy JNews
ADVERTISEMENT

Catherine’s ordeal in searching for a college after high school would prove daunting as school after school would decline admitting a deaf student. “School searching was such a nightmare, I would visit a school, and later regret as some administrators would blatantly dismiss us on grounds that her performance was not at par with the school admission standards, disregarding that for a learner with disability, the case was different,” Christine laments. From our conversation, it is apparent that there are not enough institutions, nor measures to accommodate the high number of young people living with deafness. After a long and frustrating search for a college that could accommodate Catherine, the parents were about to give up, only schools for the deaf were willing to take her in, and Ngovi was opposed to the idea. “I had studied all my life in a school for the deaf, I wanted to interact in a different setting, to prepare for the world, and not limit me for the world,” says little Ms Ngovi. When she had already resolved to join a hairdressing school, for the lack of an academic institution willing to admit her, the parents learnt that the Kenya Institute of Management, is open to deaf students, and even provides interpreters. “This was such a relief; my ache was quietened. I had lost hope but KIM, proved to be one of a kind,” says an elated Christine.

Her plight

The ordeal Ngovi has been through is a sneak pic of the society. “The public displays ignorance to the plight of people living with disability. We need interpreters in institutions of service such as hospitals,” she points out. Even the general public, needs education, sometimes, deaf people are not recognisable, and motorists can be rude at them, not inferring their condition.”

In the abundance of time

Catherine Ngovi’s growth in the modelling industry, did not die, she saw beyond all hurdles, and willed victory. “I remember after high school she enrolled for a competition that was taking place at Cool Breeze, which we supported all we could. We bought her all the attires required and showed up at the event, but only the winner was mentioned,” recalls her mother. The incidence was discouraging, and they advised her that the modelling industry may not hold much for her. However, Ngovi continued to seek other avenues to explore her talent, without much engaging them.

When she enrolled and took part in the competition that landed her to Miss Deaf International, they were taken aback. “I remember that is when I went home and went through my documents to retrieve the modelling certificate she received when she was in class five. It dawned on me, that she knew what she was made of, believed in it and committed to traverse borders on its ticket. And so she did!

Ambassador for change

With the platform and recognition that she currently holds, Ngovi intends to reach out to young people who did not manage to complete school and encourage, even create means for them to complete. “The reason I pursued a modelling career, and worked to win was because I want to show the world, and the legislators as well that even the people living with disability are immensely talented and can achieve anything they set their mind to achieve. Caroline Mwendwa is the Editor Management Magazine. Email: cmwendwa@kim.ac.ke

ShareTweetShare
Denis Kiptoo

kimmag

Related Posts

Uncategorized

Business leadership in times of political crisis

September 5, 2023
Special Report

The place of competition agencies in the transition to a circular economy

September 5, 2023
Opinion

Why affirmative action in Kenya may be a mistake

March 20, 2023
Tactics

Self-awareness Key in Career Growth

March 20, 2023
Uncategorized

Goldmines everywhere!

December 5, 2022
Uncategorized

Tata Magadi emerge top in 2022 COYA Awards

December 5, 2022
Next Post

New measures to cushion depositors

The strength of the Kenyan passport

Recommended Stories

Art, culture and exquisite ambience

September 16, 2021

Office Diary: Let’s Stop Looking for the Perfect 10

November 26, 2021
Management Magazine - Why we need sustainable food systems in the post-COVID world

We Need Sustainable Food Systems in the Post-COVID-19 World

November 4, 2021

Popular Stories

  • Management Magazine - Entertainment - Book Review

    Book Review: Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (Outlander Series #9)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tax measures as impetus to education sector

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How technology has improved healthcare

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How the old education system created failures

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • I am living my childhood dream

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Management Magazine

Management is a monthly magazine targeting middle and senior level managers from all sectors of the economy.

Recent Posts

  • How Gig Economy is Empowering a New Generation of Workers
  • The Synergy of Emotional Intelligence and Sustainability
  • Handling employee exit

KENYA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

  • ABOUT
  • KIMSOM
  • TRAINING
  • MEMBERSHIP

Get a year of access for Premium Content


SUBSCRIBE

© 2021 Management Magazine - A Publication of Kenya Institute of Management.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Special Features
  • Leadership
    • Perspective
    • Smart Leadership
    • Strategy
    • Tactics
  • Business
    • Money Matters
    • Smart Solutions
    • Investing
    • Personal Finance
    • Wealth Creation
  • Management
    • The Big Idea
    • Office Diary
    • Hands on Management
    • Future of Work
  • Lifestyle & Travel
    • Wellness
    • Travel
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment

© 2021 Management Magazine - A Publication of Kenya Institute of Management.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?