Karen Intriago Yunga is hearing-impaired. She belongs to the Pacific Adventist Educational Unit (UEAP), located in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and thanks to her perseverance and the inclusion promoted by Adventist Education, she was proclaimed flag bearer of the National Pavilion, the highest honor given to an Ecuadorian student for outstanding academic performance.
"I thank God for being part of Adventist Education and for welcoming me when other educational institutions refused to do so. Despite my disability, I never gave up and decided to get ahead. Today, this civic act is very special for me because I can see that I carry in my hands the flag of Ecuador, symbol of my country. I can see all my achievements, the result of my effort and sacrifice. God bless you," said Karen in sign language.
From Crisis to Calm
Karen was diagnosed with hearing loss when she was only two years old. Hypoacusis, deafness or hearing impairment, is a sensory disorder that consists of the inability to hear sounds, which hinders the development of speech, language, and communication.
Receiving this news not only shocked the entire family but filled them with anguish, tears, and hundreds of unanswered questions.
"When we were told she was deaf, we didn't know where to run. It wasn't easy. Where should we start? I became depressed and wondered how my daughter would cope with life. But then I said to the Lord, ‘If you gave me a daughter like this, you will also help me raise her and educate her," said Karen’s mother.
The specialists said that, indeed, Karen could not hear, but she did keep her vocal cords, so they started with different therapies and exercises at home.
Karen learned to read lips, and with her hands, she touched her mother's throat to be able to feel the sound vibrations and thus began to pronounce her first words. To reach this point, the support of the family was vital; her parents and brother persevered with her, and although they sometimes heard a "Slowly, I can't go fast" from Karen, the advances were recognized day after day.
"Seeing my daughter communicate with her eyes, then with gestures, with her voice, in sign language filled us with joy. Thanks to God, she managed on her own; she knows how to read, and despite what she experienced during the pandemic, where everything was virtual and she could not see the teacher's lips. God gave me the strength to be by her side, to answer her questions, not to let her give up, and so we both studied," Karen’s mother expressed with joy.
An Education that Embraces
Finding a school that would accept Karen became the new challenge for the Yunga family. She was rejected from several educational institutions until they found the UEAP.
The institution adapted to Karen's needs; sign language in the classrooms created integration with the students; the entire administration, teaching staff, and her classmates welcomed her with empathy, thus boosting her intellectual and physical abilities. They sought alliances with language and sign foundations, in addition to complying with the regulations of the Ministry of Education in Ecuador to have two students with different abilities per class.
"We make this moment very meaningful. Our standard bearer Karen is part of an institution that promotes integration," said Pastor Diego Jaguaco, UEAP director.
The civic act of the pledge to the National Flag of Ecuador is held every year in September. All the educational units witnessed emotional speeches and a collective pledge and committed to continue ensuring education and the good cultivation of values in their lives.
Achieving Goals
"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5, NKJV). Karen has made God her greatest ally, excelling academically since she was a child, participating in fairs and marches in favor of health, receiving the Medal of Excellence for Academic Effort from the Benemérita Sociedad Filantrópica del Guayas, and now becoming flag bearer of the National Pavilion.
"Mom, thank God I could," Karen said with a beautiful smile. The support found in Adventist Education, the empathy of her peers, the warm embrace of her family, and her perseverance contributed to her achievements. She will soon become a graphic designer.
See more photos of Karen's academic activities below:
The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Spanish-language news site.