Devastating earthquake in 2015 in Nepal destroyed Shree Sindu Deaf School's buildings. 40 (23M, 17F) deaf students were forced to study & live in Temporary Shelter. Nepali deaf people face significant discrimination & stigma. The project will equip deaf children to develop social & vocational skills to live fulfilled lives and contribute to the local economy. Mushroom cultivation is a high value crop & that enable exciting opportunity for self-employment, dignity & role model in their communites
The School Management Committee is delivering core subjects in accordance with Government's syllabi, but unable to offer any specialist vocational training due to budget restrictions. If deaf students don't have access to skills training before leaving school, they are likely to face exclusion in society & will not get the same opportunities as hearing children. This means that these children end up losing confidence, getting cut off from family, friends & community networks and left vulnerable.
As a result of consultation with students, their priority is to develop the vocational skills to develop a community enterprise around mushroom cultivation. There is very high demand for this produce in the market. The training will not only enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of the students, but also generate income for the school which will be able to sell mushrooms at market. This will enable the school to be self-sustaining and fund more advanced vocational training opportunities.
The project will contribute to the economic & social development of deaf people by transferring skills & replicating in their communities. The project has multiple benefits by: increasing their knowledge, skills & practice; improving nutrition & food security; generating income for school by selling surplus & building up a fund for other vocational training; equipping them with enterprise skills to support their livelihoods when they finish school; improving dignify life & role model in society.
