Thelma is a 7 year old deaf girl who can only receive an education in Buea School for the Deaf, a private institution which is not supported by government. This project will ensure Thelma's fees are paid and she continues to learn how to communicate with the world for another year. 2 years ago she could not communicate with anybody in her family and today she communicates fluently in sign language. With your help she will go to school and grow up to be whatever she wants to be.
Hearing disabilities are not adequately addressed in Cameroon, the only facility that can educate deaf children in the whole South-West Region (1,5 Million inhabitants) has to charge more than 8 times the average cost of schooling because it does not receive government support. Stephanie, Thelma's mother, is a young woman that struggles to make a profit every day, she has been improving a lot, but not enough yet to be able to pay for her daugther's education.
Thelma's mental development and right to education are at risk if external funding does not come through, with a great solution only a few kilometers and dollars out of reach. With this donation you will secure the education of an amazing deaf child so she takes control of her life in the future. Not only we will secure her education, but continue working with her mother to improve her business and become gradually independent and more able to take care of her daughter's education.
Thelma is in the critical years where she is learning to understand, interpret and talk back to the world, she is starting to be part of the process of formal education and learning everything that a child should learn, on an encouraging and patient environment in Buea school for the Deaf, with small classes with 2 teachers each. Eventually she will be able to reach the job market and to exercise her rights as citizen. You can provide her with this invaluable knowledge.
