Read more about our work in Uganda.
Enhancing Deaf Education and Early Intervention in Uganda
Kentalis International Foundation has been working intensively in Uganda since 2012 to improve inclusive education for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by these learners, we have developed programs that focus on empowering educators, raising awareness among parents, and enhancing early diagnostics to ensure better learning outcomes.
Our Mission in Uganda
In Uganda, children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing face significant challenges in receiving quality education, with many unable to complete primary education due to limited access and funding. Social stigma, particularly in rural areas, further marginalizes these children, limiting their social and economic prospects. Resource constraints in schools, such as high student-to-teacher ratios and a lack of specialized teacher training, contributes to these issues. Despite these hurdles, there are dedicated efforts to improve the situation. The Ugandan government supports the use of Ugandan Sign Language (USL) as an official language and backs initiatives for improved education and social inclusion.
To address these challenges, Kentalis International Foundation is working intensively in Uganda, focusing on three main pillars: raising parental awareness and sensitization, early diagnostics of hearing loss for timely interventions, and structural improvement of education for teachers through specialized training. These efforts aim to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for deaf students across Uganda.
Examples of Our Activities in Uganda
Our initiatives in Uganda encompass various projects aimed at improving educational opportunities for learners with hearing impairment. These activities range from creating a specialized Bachelor’s program for inclusive deaf education to conducting workshops for parents.
Project: Bachelor of Inclusive Deaf Education
In collaboration with Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), we helped establish a Bachelor of Inclusive Deaf Education program, which has been recognized for its innovative approach to training educators in deaf education.
Project Overview:
- Timing: 2018 – 2024
- Participants: 50+ students have already graduated from the program
- Achievements: The program received an Innovation Award from the Ministry of Higher Education. Moreoever, UMU has set up a Center for Disbilities to enhance inclusion on campus.
Project: Training Master Trainers in the Reading Method
This project was aimed at enhancing early literacy among deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Uganda. This initiative involved the training of local trainers and the publication of a toolkit for primary school teachers. We collaborated with Uganda's national curriculum authority, the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) to train additional master trainers to ensure widespread access to the toolkit. The project utilized the 'Reading Method for Early Literacy,' a method developed by Kentalis experts and adapted to the Ugandan context, to be integrated into the country's teacher training program. A blended learning course was also implemented, updating the skills of 10 teacher trainers and instructing 25 in-service teachers from various Deaf schools across Uganda.
Project Overview
- Timing: July 2023 - December 2023
- Location: The Netherlands (online) and Kampala, Uganda
- Participants: 10 teacher trainers and 25 in-service teachers
Project: Uganda Reading Project
The Reading Project, implemented by Kentalis International Foundation in both Uganda and Tanzania, developed a deaf-specific toolkit to support literacy education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from nursery to year 3 of primary education. Unlike hearing children who learn to read by linking letters to sounds, this project provided teachers with specialized training and tools tailored to the unique needs of deaf learners. The initiative, running from 2014 to 2021, included creating a toolkit based on evidence and best practices and training reading coaches to guide teachers using Video Interaction Guidance. This project was based on the Reading Skills for Deaf Children (RSDC) manual, developed by a Kentalis expert, with funding from American philanthropy and partnerships with local educational institutions.
Project Overview
- Timing: 2014 - 2021
- Location: Kampala, Uganda
- Toolkit outcome: The toolkit 'Early Reading Method' is a key outcome of this project, providing teachers with research-based theoretical information, practical lesson plans, new skills, and exercises.
- Partners: National Curriculum Development Center, Archbishop Mihayo University College of Tabora, and individual consultants from Uganda and Tanzania.
Project: Online Learning Tools for Deaf Learners
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Uganda's National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) sought Kentalis International Foundation's expertise to create online teaching materials tailored for deaf learners, as existing resources were not suitable. Collaborating with NCDC and Uganda Martyrs University, Kentalis helped develop lessons on a Learning Management System specifically designed for teachers of deaf students in primary and secondary schools. The project included training Ugandan experts in deaf education and ICT to create and evaluate digital teaching aids. Completed between 2021 and 2023, this initiative has resulted in tailored online materials and a trained team of 'deaf education content developers' for future projects.
Project Overview
- Timing: 2021 – 2023
- Location: Uganda, Kampala
- Partner: National Curriculum Development Center
- Participants: 20 teachers from primary and secondary schools who were trained in using online learning tools
- Outcome: Development of tailored online teaching materials for deaf learners and training of a specialized team of content developers.
Project: Audiology Certificate Course
Together with the Uganda Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences (UIAHMS), we launched an Audiology Certificate Course to enhance skills in early detection and intervention for hearing impairment.
Project Overview
- Timing: 2014
- Approach: Holistic multidisciplinary training involving parents and professionals.
- Outcomes: Improved early diagnostics and intervention, contributing to better educational outcomes for learners with hearing impairment.
Project: Parents Awareness Workshop
In partnership with the Uganda National Association for the Deaf (UNAD), we developed the Parents Awareness Workshop to educate and empower parents of deaf children. The goal of this workshop is to select local deaf role models as future community facilitators.
Project Overview
- Timing: Start in 2012, with the workshop still being updated today
- Location: Uganda
- Workshop goals: Participants learn how to inform parents about their child’s deafness and show them different ways to communicate with their child; understand how to encourage parents to involve their child in family and community life; support parents in making informed choices on enrollment in school; and stay involved as a Deaf role model for the child, strengthening self-reliance and socio-emotional and language skills.
Future Directions and Collaboration
As we continue our work in Uganda, we are committed to expanding our initiatives and collaborating with local and international partners. By working together, we aim to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for children with hearing loss in Uganda.
For inquiries about our work in Uganda 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.