STEM Education for 25 Children in South Africa

I hope this finds you well.

The 4 million Deaf and hard of hearing citizens in South Africa generally find it harder to access post high school education. According to Claudine Storbeck, Professor and Founder of the Wits Centre for Deaf Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, as few as one in three Deaf adults who use South African Sign Language (SASL) is functionally literate and the average Deaf school leaver in South Africa, has a written language comprehension ability equal to that of a hearing child of eight. These are the focus of our project. 

We at Educate SA continue to strive to put together a conducive learning environment for the Deaf so as we can provide Deaf people equal learning opportunities as others. We continue to target learners from poor communities who are more disadvantaged as they cannot afford necessary equipment to facilitate learning. However, the challenge remains that most post school Deaf learners are not able to fit in a regular tertiary class let alone tackle a technical subject such as Information Technology. As such we are looking at reaching out to them at a lower level, i.e. while they are still in high school and prepare them for tertiary education. This will require even more funding.

It is not all gloom however, as the South African Sign Language (SASL) is set to become the country’s 12th official language this year. Parliament approved a constitutional amendment in a bid to “promote the rights of persons who are deaf (sic) and hard of hearing”. This will certainly help Deaf people to finally have an opportunity to be properly educated in a language they understand.

Your donations towards this project will provide education and training for 25 Deaf beneficiaries in Information Technology Technical Support. Graduates will qualify as Professional Computer Support Technicians and System Engineers with skills to service and repair computers, printers, mobile phones and other hand-held devices. By providing technical skills, the project will open doors to both employment or self-employment opportunities for the Deaf in South Africa.

Take advantage of the September 2023 Little by Little campaign, a five-day crowdfunding campaign taking place between September 18-22, 2023. During this campaign, all eligible donations upto 50 dollars will be matched at 50%.  September 2023 Little by Little

Donors like you, help beneficiaries build bridges from poverty towards sustainable livelihoods by providing professional skills and access to either employment or self-employment. The Deaf graduates will no longer be limited to menial jobs associated with the Deaf but will be able to earn decent livelihoods, significantly improve their living standards and that of their families and communities by generating income and creating job opportunities. Thus you are giving them hope for a brighter future.

We are deeply grateful for your support!