Dec 2015 - Kyomya Primary School

Photos thanks to David Johnstone, then Chairman, on a self-funded visit.

Dec 2015 - Walukuba West Primary School

Dec 2015 - Teachers Ugandan Sign Language Course

​We sponsored a course run in partnership with Small Steps Foundation, which was predominantly attended by enthusiastic, committed nursery level teachers. It ran on Saturdays over terms two and three in 2015. We look forward to seeing the teachers use their skills and make it possible for nursery level deaf children to start to learn. It was delivered through a partnership with Organisation of Parents of Deaf Children (OPDC) and KALE (locally based NGO who teach these courses), which we facilitated. About 18 parents attended this one.

Dec 2015 - OPDC Parents Course

​The aim of this workshop was to support parents to learn about starting up small business ventures, so that they can pay for their deaf child's education.

Oct 2015 – International Deaf Awareness Week

Children displaying the sign they paraded at International Deaf Awareness Week. On the far left is Victoria, a JD sponsored sign language instructor and in brown, is Nabwire, Head of Special Needs Education at Kyomya Primary School. Many schools participated in the event, including primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutes and universities, as well as some NGOs from across Uganda. Guests included Hon. Kadage Rebecca, the speaker of parliament for Uganda, as well as Member of Parliament for persons with disabilities, the Bishop of Mukono Diocese and many local government members.

Aug 2015 - Walukuba West Primary School

Photos courtesy of Alex Tomkins who self-funded a visit to Jinja District as part of her studies for her MA in Visual Anthropology from University of Manchester. ​ In-depth collaboration with deaf Ugandan school children resulted in the production of a drama performance about their early life experiences. In the play, the children owned their deafness as a specific way of being in the world, rather than a social/physical impairment of the able-bodied.

The children acknowledged are Abe Steven, Aliba Babrah, Isabirye Chrispus, Bawalanswa Marvin, Jackson Ndwati, Konso Jovia, Lugula Frank, Magora Agnes, Mbabzi Petwa, Mirembe Florence, Mukwana John, Mulumba Daniel, Nabwire Immaculate, Nalwoga Carol, Namuyomba Mariam, Nkanga Frank, Ngobi Juma, Sharif Ali, Wasswa Joshua, Waiswa Ziafu.)

Aug 2015 – Sign Language Workshop for Teachers

These workships are delivered by Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD, a Ugandan NGO) with the support of Deaf Child Worldwide (DCW, the international development arm of the National Deaf Children’s Society, and the leading UK charity working with deaf children in developing countries). They ran over 8 weeks in two 3 hour sessions a week in both Kyomya and Walukuba West Primary Schools.  They are part of a three-year programme to assess and improve comprehensive access to quality education by deaf children, and they show what progress is being made to further deaf education at Jinja's deaf sponsored schools. ​Photos with thanks to Alex Tomkins.

Aug 2015

Photos thanks to David, then Chairman, on a self-funded visit.

Second Term 2015 - Wakiso Senior School

8-12 Dec 2014 - ​Third Sign Language/Deaf Awareness Workshop

​This was attended by the parents who had attended the second workshop so that they could increase their knowledge of Ugandan Sign Language.  It was held at the beginning of the longest holiday of the school year so that parents would have plenty of time to use sign language at home before their deaf children returned to school.  17-year-old Irene, who has been sponsored by Jinja DEAF for her last three years at primary school and for her first year at senior school, attended the workshop to raise awareness of the impact education can have on a deaf child.

Nov 2014 - Kyomya Primary School

Various activities over the year: Juliet teaching in April, art lessons with unit head Madam Scovia Nabwire in July, sports in July, visit from Sara from the Netherlands, farewell meal at Bujagali Falls in August and the end of year party organised by Soft Power Education in November.

Nov 2014 - Walukuba West Primary School

Children signing a poem and dancing on Speech day and briefing day for the Uganda National Exams for Primary Seven.

31 Aug- 5 Sept 2014 - ​Second Sign Language/Deaf Awareness Workshop

The objective of this workshop was to bridge the communication gaps between parents, service providers and their children. This workshop was larger than the first and held centrally at YMCA in Jinja town. We are grateful again for the organisational contribution by SPE (Soft Power Education).

We are glad that the workshop was an overall success, with evident increased awareness and involvement of the parents of deaf children.  We are also glad that matrons and teachers were able to take part this time alongside parents and Soft Power Education staff. The participants expressed sincere gratitude for the programme, saying it has been a long term aspiration yet with no hope that it could really happen. 

Moses Ochom (founder of the Jinja District Deaf Association) managed to visit the workshop from Kampala, and his emphasis was for parents to love their children, and to be willing to support and cater for their education just as with the hearing siblings.  He encouraged parents to work together, possibly by forming an association of parents to advocate for the rights of their children, and a parents committee was elected.

July 2014 - Inter school Tag Rugby

Students at Walukuba West Primary School took part in an inter-school match of tag rugby at Kyadondo rugby ground. 

July 2014 - Wakiso Senior School 

Ex-Walukuba West Primary School students (Dhikusooka, Irene and Sharon) at Wakiso Secondary School for the Deaf.

July 2014 - The Uganda Society for the Deaf Vocational Training Centre

Henry received sponsorship from Jinja DEAF to buy materials to complete a carpentry course.

May 2014 - Visit from our Patron Sam and Soft Power Education

Jinja DEAF Patron Sam and his interpreter Yusef met with Sharon Webb, Soft Power Education's General Manager. He met pupils from both schools and advised on applying for support. 

12-16 May 2014 - ​First Sign Language/Deaf Awareness Workshop

This workshop took place at Soft Power Education’s Kyabirwa Children’s Centre, where they have recently constructed a purpose-built SEN facility with a classroom and a physiotherapy room. 

It brought together people four charities working in Jinja District: Jinja DEAF, Soft Power Education (SPE), Ekisa and Small Steps Foundation. SPE is a long-established educational charity that has been working with children with special needs since 2006.  Ekisa and Small Steps Foundation work with vulnerable Nursery age children.

Photos thanks to Yaziidi show opening remarks from SPE General Manager Sharon encouraging participants to continue using what they were about to learn, patron Sam teaching sign names for Uganda's districts, instructors teaching signs for the natural environment and instructors evaluating participants signing. 

First Term 2014 - Kyomya Primary School

Feb 2014 - Irene

Lovely photo of Irene collecting her temporary Primary Leaving Examination certificate from the headmistress. She dreams of becoming a health worker one day. She can now attend Wakiso Senior School, which is one of only 3 secondary schools for the deaf in the whole of Uganda.

Feb 2014 - Walukuba West Primary School

District sports gala and minibus day trip to Entebbe airport and Wildlife Centre.

Jan 2014 - Wakiso Senior School

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