Accomplishments

First Project-Alpha Special School for the Deaf

Alpha Special School for the Deaf in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was founded by Lutheran missionaries in the early 1960’s. Currently, there are about 200 Deaf or hard of hearing students between the ages of 4 and 25 years of age attending Alpha. Though the school has classes only through the eighth grade, some older students continue to attend vocational classes due to the lack of higher educational institutions that will meet their needs. Other students discontinue their education prematurely because they must find work or beg for money or food in order to help their families survive. The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the poorest of the poor is readily apparent.

Deaf Africa Association is proud to report that through initial grassroots fundraising we have been able to provide basic school supplies, art supplies, first aid kit, reams of weaving/knitting yarn for the vocational program and a new Kenmore sewing machine. Dawn Sign Press a San Diego based, Deaf owned and operated, publishing company also donated much needed books, video tapes and educational posters.

The World Federation of the Deaf, an international non-governmental and non-profit organization that promotes the rights of deaf people worldwide, estimates that high illiteracy rates are very common among deaf people in developing nations since fewer than 20% of deaf children receive any education at all.