Global InformationBraam Jordaan information
Braam Jordaan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1981 (age 42–43)! Benoni, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Education | Universal Computer Arts Academy |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, author, filmmaker, animator, advocate, executive |
| Employer(s) | Convo Global, Ltd. in Vancouver, Canada, Chief Executive Officer |
| Organization(s) | World Federation of the Deaf, World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section, United Nations, UNICEF Youth Council Member Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities |
| Known for | The Rubbish Monster, director, producer, writer, animation (2006) |
| Spouse | Drisana Levitzke-Gray (m. 2016) |
| Awards | Order of the Baobab (2019), Business in Vancouver Forty under 40 (2020), Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards (2020) |
| Website | http://www.braamjordaan.com/ |
Braam Jordaan (born 1981) is a South African entrepreneur, filmmaker, animator, and activist. He is an advocate for Sign Language and human rights of Deaf people, and a board member of the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section.[1][2][3] In 2009, Jordaan collaborated with the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf and Marblemedia on the first children's animated dictionary of American Sign Language, which allows deaf children to look up words in their own primary language of ASL along with the English counterpart.[1] The dictionary allows both deaf children and their hearing parents to learn sign language together.[4]
Jordaan was interviewed by international news organizations including The Washington Times, BBC, and People magazine about the sign language interpreter scandal during the funeral services of President Nelson Mandela.[4][5][6]
In 2014, Jordaan collaborated with the Camp Mark Seven's first summer of Deaf Film Camp in making the hit song Happy by Pharrell Williams into an American Sign Language music video. The music video made by all 24 camp students was selected as one of NBC News 25 Most Inspirational Stories of the Year and listed as one of People magazine's 2014 Internet Trends.[6][7]
In 2019, Jordaan was awarded the Order of the Baobab (Grand Counsellor of the Baobab) in recognition of his efforts in raising awareness of the importance of sign language and the human rights of people from the deaf community around the world through his colourful films and books. The National Orders are the highest awards that South Africans can receive. The president bestows a national order upon a South African citizen or member of the international community who has contributed towards making South Africa a democratic and successful country.[8]
Jordaan was a recipient of Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 for 2020. The awards recognize the achievements of British Columbia's young entrepreneurs, executives and professionals with demonstrated excellence in business, judgment, leadership and community contribution.[9]
In 2020, Jordaan was awarded Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards for championing better education in the deaf community, on achieving global recognition for his contribution to improving the lives of persons with disabilities.[10]
- ^ a b McLean, Tom (8 December 2009). "Animated dictionary for deaf children unveiled". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ "Speaking out: Young voices on NCDs". UNICEF. 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Simon, Natalie (11 December 2013). "Outrage over sign language interpreter at Madiba Memorial". Yahoo News. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Transcript of Braam Jordaan Interview". BBC World News. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Cheryl K. Chumley (11 December 2013). "Mandela service sign language interpreter: 'He made up his own signs'". The Washington Times. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ a b Billups, Andrea (11 December 2013). "Mandela Memorial Deaf interpreter was a fake". People. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Serico, Chris (25 December 2014). "The 25 most inspirational stories of the year". NBC News. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Maphanga, Canny (25 April 2019). "Recipient of National order, Braam Jordaan hopes to launch a video interpreting service for the deaf community". News 24. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- ^ LaPointe, Kirk (30 October 2020). "BIV's 2020 Forty under 40 winners announced". Business in Vancouver. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ Ramaphosa, Cyril (3 December 2020). "Closing remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa for the Presidential Working Group on Disability and on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities". The Presidency, Republic of South Africa. Retrieved 15 December 2020.