> Third Mental Health & Deafness World Congress
>
> 26 - 30 October 2005
>
> Worcester, South Africa
>
> Third Mental Health & Deafness World Congress 2005
>
> At the 2nd World Congress of the European Society for Mental Health
> and Deafness (ESMHD) in 2000 in Copenhagen Rev Attie Smit of the
> Institute for the Deaf, presented a paper and workshop on the
> Mini-Village for Deaf
adults
> with multiple disabilities on invitation of the ESMHD.
>
> Following the Congress the Institute for the Deaf was asked by the
> International Contact Group of the ESMHD if it would be prepared to
> host their next World Congress in 2005 in the Western Cape. The
> Institute for the Deaf responded positively.
>
> At the meeting of the Executive Committee of the ESMHD in 2001 a
> presentation of facilities available in the Western Cape was made and
> it
was
> confirmed that the Institute for the Deaf would host the 3rd World
Congress
> in South Africa (Worcester) in 2005 and an Africa Workshop on Mental
Health
> and Deafness in 2004 (see press release attached).
>
> The Institute for the Deaf sees this Congress as an opportunity for
> the Breede Valley and Boland District Municipality to promote the
> region as a tourism and investment destination. It is expected that
> 600 delegates from European countries, USA and Africa will participate

> in this Congress.
>
> The organising committee (see attachment) is committed to an open and
> transparent process which will involve all role players. The Congress
will
> create the opportunity to bring people, organisations and local
> government structures in South Africa together in partnerships for a
> common cause. Public private partnerships will be extended to role
> players in the
Western
> Cape, South Africa, SADC and within the NEPAD context.
>
> Already organisations of neighbouring countries have approached the
> Institute for the Deaf to assist them in developing services for Deaf
> people. This Congress will raise the opportunity for them to become
> partners in the field of Deafness and related service areas.
>
> The ATKV Goudini Spa will be the venue for the Congress. It is
> situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands, surrounded by magnificent

> vineyards and majestic mountains. The resort has state-of-the art
> conference facilities and a dedicated professional team who will be on

> duty throughout the conference.
>
> Accommodation for delegates will be provided on the resort and at
> guest houses in the surrounding area.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Third Mental Health & Deafness World Congress 2005
>
> The 2005 Congress is not merely an event but part of a process which
> will contribute towards equity and accessibility for people with
> disabilities
in
> South Africa.
>
> About the Institute for the Deaf:
>
> The Institute for the Deaf is a private, dynamic, non-profit
> organization established in 1881 in Worcester, South Africa and it is
> one of the oldest and largest constituency organizations and resource
> centres safeguarding
and
> promoting the interests, human rights and well-being of Deaf people in
South
> Africa.
>
> For more information on the Institute of the Deaf, please visit the
> Institute's website at www.deafcare.co.za <http://www.deafcare.co.za/>
>
> Both the 2004 workshop and the 2005 congress will be organized by
> Thebe Conventions, a professional conference organising company based
> in Cape Town. Thebe Conventions forms part of the Thebe Tourism Group

> and is a subsidiary of the Thebe Investment Corporation (TIC). TIC is
> South
Africa's
> oldest black empowerment group.
>
> Congress Secretariat:
>
> PO Box 1169 Worcester 6849
> Tel: +27 (0) 23 342 0757 Fax: +27 (0) 23 342 0087
> Email: congress2005@...
> <mailto:congress2005@...>
> Web: www.deafnetsa.co.za <http://www.deafnetsa.co.za/>
>
>
>
>
>