Zambia is an incredible country, rich in culture, community, and resilience. Yet, like many places, deaf children here face barriers to accessing the support and resources they need. DeafKidz International (DKI) has been working in Zambia for over 12 years to change that, ensuring deaf children have the tools and knowledge to protect themselves from harm.
Delivering DeafKidz Defenders
In the Copperbelt District, DKI has been rolling out the DeafKidz Defenders (DKD) programme—a six-hour blended learning initiative. The programme includes role-play, demonstrations, worksheets, and interactive gameplay to help children understand important messages around safety, boundaries, and communication.
Since 2023, we’ve also been training teachers of teachers. These educators are equipped to train others in their schools, creating a ripple effect that extends the programme’s reach.
Supporting Teachers and Students
To ensure the programme stays effective, the DKI team runs regular check-ins with trained teachers. These sessions help us:
- Confirm the programme is being delivered accurately
- Ensure children understand the content
- Support teachers to build their confidence
- Identify ways to adapt or improve the materials
Recently, our staff visited a school in Ndola to observe a class of 5–8-year-old children with varying levels of sign language comprehension. We introduced new materials, such as large thematic posters, to help visualise core concepts.
Learning and Adapting
Every observation provides opportunities to improve. During the Ndola visit, for example, some children confused “early warning signs” of abuse with symptoms of illness. This kind of feedback is invaluable. It helps us slow the pace, clarify key messages, and make sure every child fully understands before moving on.
Thanks to these insights, we continue to refine the programme in real time, ensuring it’s both accessible and effective for the children we serve.
Bridging the Technology Gap
Many of the rural schools we support lack basic equipment, especially laptops. In summer 2024, law firm Stevens & Bolton LLP donated laptops to help bridge this gap. With the support of the Ndola Education Board, six of these laptops were given to one of our partner schools.
Technology plays a key role in the DKD programme. The final component—the DeafKidz Defenders game—is a crucial learning tool. It reinforces messages through play, helping children learn in a way that is fun, engaging, and memorable.
You Can Make a Difference
Do you or your company have unused laptops or devices? We’d love to give them a new lease of life. Donated tech supports deaf children’s learning and helps us deliver the programme in even more schools.
If you can help, please contact us at info@deafkidz.org.
Together, we can empower deaf children in Zambia; and ensure no child is left behind.