What We Do
Why a school for the deaf?
Currently, within Livingstone, Zambia, there is not enough educational resources for the over 250 deaf adults and children. Families have limited resources for education, perforating their child’s health and futures. Many deaf children live in small villages, many kilometers from Livingstone, without any means of transportation to reach school. We wanted to fill that gap by providing education tailored to deaf students, including two healthy meals a day, and transportation to and from school for each student. This will enable students to enter high school with the skills and abilities they need to progress and reach their full potential.
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1. We Provide a Nurturing Environment
We provide a nurturing and safe environment by having workshops for teachers about non violent discipline, taking care of each student individually, and working with them to help build self esteem. We make sure our students are given the attention they need and sometimes lack at home.
We utilize child psychology, welcoming them with smiles, hugs, and excitement. We focus on their positive attributes always. We focus on the positives, knowing that one positive can completely change any negative.
2. We Educate for Free
We provide a free education so that no financial barrier stands in the way of a child’s right to go to school. We provide transport to and from school, regardless of distance to the student’s home. We make sure that two healthy meals are provided every day. All uniforms and supplies are completely provided for, allowing for students to learn without worrying about what tools they will use.
3. We Faciliate Active Learning
We always encourage our Deaf students to ask questions, without the concern of being criticized. We continue to strive have an active learning environment where older students mentor our younger students.
We encourage open communication, using Sign Language which increases their vocabulary and allows them to feel free to express themselves clearly.
4. We Work with Families
We work with parents and families, teaching non-violent discipline as we believe strongly in this philosophy. We are open to all parents to teach workshops on communication with their deaf children, including open days for teaching sign language. We have a well established relationship with families of our students, where we discuss their progress, bumps in the road and anything else along the way. We know in order for students to succeed, we must work with their families as well.
5. We Utilize Team Building and Life Skills
Teamwork is a highlighted skill we focus on for our students, since many deaf children are not included in groups and decisions. We teach working together to solve problems. We know whether it is play time or class room time, it’s important for students to collectively make decisions from the game they choose to the problem they need to solve. We work as a team to bring unity and self awareness for growth and an enriching experience as they grow into adulthood.
We also work closely with our students on teaching them life skills, from hygiene and handwashing, to compassion and problem-solving. We know it’s imperative for our students to have the skills to thrive in life outside the centre, where they will be accepted into communities.
6. We Provide Opportunities to Experience the World
Every term, we organize a local trip with the students to visit nearby attractions. Past trips have included the Livingstone Crocodile Farm and a safari to Mosi-oa-tunya National Game Park. We have a river cruise on the horizon, where students can see hippos and other wildlife from a shaded river boat while they snack. We hope to visit the mighty Victoria Falls next, so students can witness the “Smoke that Thunders” the UNESCO World heritage site and one of the 7 greatest natural wonders of the world.
Numbers Speak
Every year we work to increase the support for each child, aiming for our students to excel in Zambian society. In 2021 we were able to achieve more students than ever excelling to the next grade and more meals provided, including parcels during COVID closures.
Students Enrolled
Staff
K
Meals Provided
Students Received Winter Clothes
Students Proceeded to Next Grade
Field Trips
School Uniforms Provided
Families Received Food Parcels During COVID Closure
How We Work
Bringing Dreams within Reach for Deaf Children
Our students ages range from three to twenty two. They attend classes after eating breakfast from 08:00 to 14:00. Science, art, math and life skills are just a few of the many subjects being taught. Many students need catching up, as they were unable to communicate and learn in their previous schools or they were unable to attend at all. Teachers proficient in sign language are able to communicate with all of our deaf students.
Skills such as carpentry, photography, gardening and sewing are also being taught to extend skillsets of students outside the classroom.
The Keys to a Bright Future for Deaf Students
Deaf children face taunting, theft, and physical abuse from the community and their own families — a cruel and unjust punishment for having committed the crime of being born deaf. DEAAF began community outreach and started workshops for adults. The response was immense. Soon, parents of deaf children, as well as several adults not involved with the Deaf community, were learning Sign Language and non-violent parenting. Most importantly, their children reacted with joy from being understood, some for the first times in their lives, and telling stories of reformed communication at home.
Nutritional Meals to Fuel Knowledge Gain
Each morning as the students arrive at the DeSanto Centre for the Deaf, they are welcomed with a healthy breakfast. We then have story time, where they sit and participate in describing what they are learning with pictures and sign language.
Lunch time is enjoyed with conversations and a full tummy. We know that in order for kids to succeed, they need to have a healthy meal in their bellies to fuel their brains.
We work with our students to help prepare meals, as this is an essential skill in Zambian culture. They learn to cook traditional meals, and get to enjoy them too!