Education is a key driver of change and transforms lives. As Nelson Mandela rightly said, education is “the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It remains at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals, essential for reducing inequalities, improving health, achieving gender equality, and fighting all forms of discrimination and intolerance.
Our Expertise & Approach
DESK has a unique focus on enhancing access to education for Deaf children and youth. We promote and support positive models of inclusive education in Deaf schools, preschools, and other learning centers. By offering skills training to teachers and education stakeholders, we promote a deep understanding of Deaf education and provide the practical tools necessary to identify barriers to learning.
Our training provides specific strategies to manage Deaf learners in the classroom, ensuring reasonable accommodation—as mandated by the 2010 Constitution of Kenya—is a reality at all levels of learning.
Building Systemic Change
With years of experience working alongside schools for the Deaf, DESK has established excellent relationships with children, parents, local communities, and health officials at both county and national levels. Our expertise and research indicate that improving data collection and information sharing is critical to boosting enrollment, retention, and academic performance among primary-level Deaf children.
We focus on laying the foundations for long-term sustainability by:
- Capacity Building: Training education officials, teachers, and school managers in specialized Deaf pedagogy.
- Partnership with Duty-Bearers: Working in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) to ensure a strong sense of ownership and future-proofed implementation.
- Adaptive Sports: Using play to foster teamwork, confidence, and social integration, ensuring Deaf youth are supported both inside and outside the classroom.
Our Vision for the Future
By creating systemic change, we ensure that inclusive education projects remain sustainable. All stakeholders have demonstrated a collective willingness to work with DESK to dismantle barriers and ensure that every Deaf child in Kenya receives the quality education they deserve.
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