Keethan shares his experience at the first National Deaf Youth Camp in Cambridge, where he truly immersed himself in the Deaf community after moving to New Zealand from Sri Lanka. He reflects on the impact of the camp, how he mastered the infamous ‘Deaf nod,’ and how the experience helped shape his leadership skills and active involvement in the Deaf community.
The 1st National Deaf Youth Camp: A Life-Changing Experience
2025 •
- Deaf Youth
Keethan shares his experience at the first National Deaf Youth Camp in Cambridge, where he truly immersed himself in the Deaf community after moving to New Zealand from Sri Lanka. He reflects on the impact of the camp, how he mastered the infamous ‘Deaf nod,’ and how the experience helped shape his leadership skills and active involvement in the Deaf community.
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Taonga source:
Keethan Sundar
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, KSADS-02-STO25
Copyright status:
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Note:
This item has been compressed and/or edited.
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Est. 1994
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Friends for Young Deaf (FYD)
The Friends for Young Deaf (FYD) movement swept through New Zealand when Christoph Blum was appointed as Youth Coordinator in 1994 after training in England in the early 1990s. The theoretical components of leadership were put into practice on a real-time basis, merging with the Kiwi love of camps and outdoor living. Many of today’s young Deaf leaders participated in an FYD camp at some stage of their development.
1995
video – Taonga source: Allan Richardson
Northern Deaf Youth Camp 1995
Coverage of the participants and activities enjoyed at the 1995 Northern Deaf Youth Camp in Lake Whakamaru, Waikato.
NZSL Stories
2005
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group
1st National Deaf Youth Camp, 2005
The 1st National Deaf Youth Camp – April 2005 at Finlay Adventure Park, Cambridge – was supported and organised by DEAFinitely Youth Group (DYG). It was founded in 2000 to host the 2nd Asia-Pacific Deaf Youth Camp, and it went on to support the 1st NDYC with 25 participants and 5 different workshops.
NZSL Stories
1995
video – Taonga source: Allan Richardson
Central Deaf Youth Camp 1995
The Central Deaf Youth Camp, as organised by FYD at Palm Grove, Paraparaumu, May 1995.
NZSL Stories
1996
video – Taonga source: Allan Richardson
Summer Deaf Youth Camp 1996
Comprehensive footage of the participants and activities at the 1996 Summer Deaf Youth Camp in Otaki.
NZSL Stories
2017
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society
Tee Shirt: 4th National Deaf Youth Camp
NZSL Stories
2006
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group
2nd National Deaf Youth Camp, 2006
Footage of the 2nd National Deaf Youth Camp was during 25 September to 30 September 2006, with 50 participants. The event was organised by Christchurch Deaf Youth Club which was set up after the 1st National Deaf Youth Camp.
NZSL Stories
1996
video – Taonga source: Chris Blum
Summer Deaf Youth Camp: Drama Show
Youth campers at the 1996 Summer Deaf Youth Camp in Otaki put on an entertaining evening drama show!
NZSL Stories
2008
video – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society
3rd National Deaf Youth Camp, 2008
The Wellington Deaf Youth Group organizes the 3rd National Deaf Youth Camp – a five-day camp in Hastings. The theme of the camp is UNITY.
NZSL Stories