Hear the World, Stafa, Switzerland will join forces with Global Explorers, Fort Collins, Colo, a not-for-profit educational travel organization, to offer the first-ever Hear the World expedition to the Peruvian Amazon.
The expedition will integrate students who are 17 to 22 years old and of mixed hearing abilities, to raise awareness about hearing as a fundamental part of life that many take for granted, says a statement from the organization.
The acoustical environment of the Peruvian Amazon is a complex symphony exploding with life—where one’s ability to listen is increasingly magnified. For that reason, it is the perfect setting to educate students about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss. Students with and without hearing loss will form the team that will work together and learn from one another while shattering expectations and learning to use adversity to their advantage, says the group.
The expedition team will be accompanied by Bill Barkeley, a world-class mountain climber and one of the 15,000 people in the United States with Type 2 Usher’s Syndrome—the leading cause of deaf-blindness in the world. Bill’s 2007 summit of Mount Kilimanjaro shattered expectations and confirmed his role as an advocate and inspiration for the hearing loss community, says the organization.
The expedition will take place from July 8 to 17, 2010. Full-time students ages 17 to 22 with and without hearing loss can apply through January 15. Click here for more information.
Hear the World, an initiative from Phonak, Stafa, Switzerland, with US headquarters in Warrenville, Ill, raises awareness about the importance of hearing, educates the public about the consequences of hearing loss, and informs how people can benefit from the solutions that are available. The initiative focuses on prevention, support, and solutions.
[Source: Hear the World]
