Jinja DEAF | What We Do

what we do

We promote equal access to education with a focus on quality sign- bilingual education and promote activities which foster understanding and inclusion within their families and communities.

Our current activities include funding full-time specialist sponsored workers in schools, providing grants for learning materials and sponsoring sign language and inclusion workshops for parents and educators.

We are a small volunteer-led charity. We do not have middle-men, offices or fundraising companies so we can truly ensure all donations go directly to the people who need it most. In fact, 100% of expenditure in 2021 and 2022 was spent directly on our causes.

Why Is Our Work Needed?

The majority of deaf children in Uganda never go to school and never learn to communicate. They live in isolation without access to language, friendship, education or hope for the future. Many are hidden in shame, presumed mentally incapable and treated as a burden.

The government has designated some schools to include children with special educational needs, but these are under-resourced for deaf education, especially lacking sign-language-fluent teachers.

Many families cannot afford the travel or boarding costs for their deaf children to attend these schools, and when resources are short, hearing siblings usually take priority.

Patrick's Story

In 2004, Channel 4's Unreported World series gave an insight into how education and work like that of Jinja DEAF can transform the lives of young deaf Ugandans.

Closed captioning version here.

Full programme: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/on-demand/58399-016 (25 mins)

Watch Margaret's story

A Message from Our Patron

British Sign Language

Ugandan Sign Language

TRANSCRIPT: I am Sam Lutalo-Kiingi. Greetings all, and welcome to Jinja Deaf Education Access Fund. Jinja DEAF is a UK-based charity registered in 2008 that aims to support the education of deaf children in Uganda. Primary and secondary schools in Uganda are open to deaf children, but there is little access, and considerable costs are attached to school attendance, such as transport, uniforms and boarding. In rural villages, parents often cannot afford these costs, or the high fees of the few specialist deaf schools where the teachers use sign language. In addition, most hearing teachers cannot sign, and there is a shortage of teachers who can (known as SEN, or Special Educational Needs teachers). Deaf teachers are considered unemployable because they do not have the appropriate qualifications. It is very important for deaf children to gain a high-quality education, so that they may attend further and higher education, and become role models for the next generation of deaf children. Jinja DEAF supports this by funding deaf children’s school fees and transport costs, and deaf sign language instructors’ salaries. So far, Jinja DEAF has been able to fund the education of four deaf pupils and the salary of two deaf sign language instructors. We also fund the salaries of two hearing communication assistants who can interpret for the deaf children. We want to achieve much more, and we welcome the support and generosity of donors who wish to be a part of this success. If you are ready to change the future for a deaf child, please click on the link for more information about how to contribute. With your support, the possibilities for Ugandan Deaf children are endless. As a Deaf Ugandan myself, I have recently completed a PhD in linguistics. The opportunity to support and encourage the achievements of future generations of deaf children makes me proud to be the patron of Jinja DEAF.