Read more about our work in Kenya.
Enhancing education for deaf learners in Kenya
For the past decade, Kentalis International Foundation has been dedicated to enhancing the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Kenya. Together with local partners, we work on capacity building: by equipping local teacher trainers and other educators with the necessary skills to educate young deaf learners, we aim for a sustainable impact.
Our mission in Kenya
In Kenya, 14 in every 1,000 children have moderate or severe hearing loss. Only a very small percentage of them have access to education in sign language. This lack of access to education hinders not only their academic progress, but also their overall social and economic development.
One of the main issues is the lack of teachers specifically trained in sign language and education for students with hearing loss. Many teachers are not able to communite effectively with their deaf or hard-of-hearing students. This is often due to lack of training and resources. Our mission is to bridge this gap through targeted training programs and collaborations with local educational institutions.
Examples of our activities in Kenya
Our initiatives have included creating a sign language assessment tool for primary schools and producing a documentary to highlight successful Deaf role models in Kenya.
Kenya: sign language assessment tool
Kentalis International Foundation and eKitabu, Kenya, collaborated to enhance the literacy skills of deaf children. Our project, which ran from August 2022 to December 2023, focused on capacity building of educators in Kenya to support children in learning sign language. We developed a game-based assessment tool for teachers to monitor the sign language progress of students. This effective tool is the basis of our training course Sign Language Assessment.
Project Overview
- Timing: August 2022 – December 2023 (completed)
- Locations: Netherlands (online) and Nairobi, Kenya
- Visual and interactive: The sign language assessment tool is based on playing interactive games to measure a pupil’s sign language progress.
- Usability: It is easy to explain to other teachers, ensuring that professionals can assist each other.
- Local context: The tool reflects the local context with questions and examples that match the reality of Kenyan schools.
Results
We are proud with the results of our simple play-based assessment tool that can be easily rolled out in other schools in Kenya. The tool tests the receptive and expressive sides of sign language at different levels such as letter/number, word, sentence, and story. Most elements can be done in a classroom setting, making it efficient for teachers. The tool is accompanied by a methodology and a practical manual.
In May 2023, the Kentalis International Foundation project team traveled to Nairobi to explain the tool’s work process to eKitabu. Together, we tested the prototype at the Racecourse School in Nairobi. The positive response from eKitabu and the school teachers affirmed the tool’s effectiveness. The tool will be used in more than 100 schools in Kenya where eKitabu is engaged in sign language vocabulary development.
Documentary: Deaf Role Models in Kenya, Africa
Our documentary 'Deaf Role Models in Kenya, Africa' showcases successful Deaf professionals who have achieved their goals despite, or because of, their deafness.
We made the documentary to inspire parents, teachers and policy makers: yes, it is very useful and rewarding to send a deaf or hard-of-hearing child to school, to invest in their educational career for a promising future and a good position in society.
A father of a 6-year-old deaf child noted after watching the documentary:
“I learned a lot. My challenge is that I need to learn Sign Language to be able to communicate. Just push my deaf daughter in education, she will be able to achieve like the professor. The film encourages us. It tells us not to be discouraged. Being deaf is being like any other person."
Watch the complete documentary below.
Future directions and collaboration
We look forward to continuing our efforts in Kenya. We invite other organizations and educational institutions to join us in our mission to enhance education for deaf learners in Kenya. Together, we can break down communication barriers and create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all children.
For inquiries about our work in Kenya or other countries, please contact us. If you are an organization interested in supporting education for deaf learners, find more information about partnering with us.