VIDEO: A deaf Syrian child refugee uses sign language for the first time

The moment a deaf Syrian child refugee uses sign language for the first time has gone viral, and for good reason. 

Hamza, a deaf six-year-old who fled the war in Syria and is now seeking refuge in Lebanon, was never exposed to sign language until vice president of the Chicago based Deaf Planet Soul (DPS) organization walked past him while he was waiting to see his doctor.

Zaineb "Zee" Abdulla, decided to stop and spend a few minutes with Hamza to teach him some signs, and to her surprise thirty minutes later the "congenitally deaf Syrian refugee could remember all that he had been taught and began using the signs spontaneously."

The moment was captured an camera and later posted on Abdulla's Facebook page. It instantly went viral, with close to 1 million people watching and sharing on social media platforms.

Learning sign language can facilitate easier communication for people who have hearing disabilities and DPS highlighted the importance of the skill during their first aid mission in Lebanon.

In an interview with Middle East Eye Abdulla explained that "sign language is what you need to change deafness from a disability to a cultural identity, and that's what we are trying to do."

This past March, DPS "embarked on the world's first Deaf-led humanitarian aid mission."

Its aim?

To provide audiological care, hearing aids and sign language resources to refugee children living in Lebanon. The first mission was extremely successful, with dozens of deaf children receiving much needed care and support.

The organization hopes to plan even more mission trips and they rely mainly on donations that they receive through their website.