A YOUNG student has proved deafness is no obstacle after winning an award for her voluntary work with children.
Nida Hanid has been nominated by her parents for a Pride in our People award. She was selected for a Star award from 10,000 young students at the School of English Language Teaching, at Uxbridge College,
She took a course in English as a second language and showed remarkable skills, despite having to use an interpreter.
Nida, 25, and her mother, Mussarrat, 54, of Verulam Road, Greenford, were recently recognised by Ealing Volunteer Centre for their work at SNIPS, a toddlers playgroup in West Ealing.
Mussarrat started as a volunteer in 2008 and was joined by Nida in 2009.
"We are so proud of Nida. She is just amazing," she said. "The children really love her and she often draws with them. Sometimes if they talk to her and she doesn't reply, their parents explain that she is deaf and they don't mind at all. If I am there without her, they ask me where she is."
Signing to her mother, Nida said: "I love to play with the children. Being deaf doesn't make any difference."
Nida and her brother, Sohail, were both born deaf. At the time, the family lived in Kenya.
Mussarrat, who has six children, said: "We only realised Nida was deaf when she was one. She had her back to me and didn't respond when I spoke to her.
"The doctor just said to me: 'it's lucky she is beautiful'. Sometimes she feels frustrated, but mostly it is OK. She is very sensitive and understands us."
Nida said: "It is more difficult when I am out and someone says something to me."
She is now studying IT at Southall College, where she has someone assigned to help her, and hopes to go on to university.
