International Resources for Education of African Deaf And Blind Children: I-READ-ABC

The mission of International Resources for Education of Africa’s Deaf And Blind Children (I-READ-ABC) is to establish, facilitate and promote educational opportunities for all Deaf-Blind Children in order for them to develop to their fullest potential into self-sufficient adults within their communities.

About Us

Organisation and Administration

I Read ABC is a charity run by a group of volunteers with no pay.  The organisation is governed by a by-law that outlines the vision and the scope of the charitable activities.  The current directors are Canadian educators with many years of teaching and educational administration experiences in the Ontario educational system:


  • Opiyo Oloya
    President
  • Paul Houlihan
    Director/Secretary
  • Dan Ryan
    Director/Treasurer
  • Sue Kralik
    Director
  • Ron Sciulli
    Director
  • Christine Kwiatkowski
    Director

Objectives and Activities of I-READ-ABC

I Read ABC aims to work with local partners in Africa and in Canada to enhance the well being of deaf and blind children to become self-sufficient in their communities, by providing elementary and post-secondary education, and vocational training programs.

Activities:

  • I-READ-ABC will carry out fundraising as well as apply for grants from various charitable foundations, NGOs and governmental organisations in Canada.
  • Identify local partners in Africa to collaborate on needs assessments and potential projects.
  • undertake specific projects directly related to building or supporting existing facilities for the education of deaf and blind children

To educate deaf and blind children in Africa by establishing and operating community schools and learning centers with facilities and support services for the teaching of sign-language, Braille and any other internationally accepted mode of communication including the use of computer.

Activities:

  • In the short term, I-READ-ABC will raise funds for purchasing as well as coordinating the donation of resources such as books and computers for teaching sign-language and Braille to children in African schools
  • Working with existing schools in Africa to improve facilities for deaf and blind education
  • Purchasing Resources for deaf children
  • Long-term goals include large fundraising efforts aimed at funding the purchase of land, building of learning centers and providing the initial operating resources for deaf and blind schools

To establish accessible, community-based visual, speech and hearing assessment services that are provided by qualified professionals.

Activities:

  • I-READ-ABC plans to work with local health partners in Africa to identify and establish community centers that will provide primary visual, speech and hearing assessments at the village level
  • I-READ-ABC will work with and employ on contracts, local health professionals to provide assessment services for blind and deaf children in Africa

To develop and provide education and training programs to educators who will teach the deaf and blind children in Africa.

Activities:

  • Work with local teacher-training institutions to develop and fund training programs for teachers of blind and deaf children
  • Run regular recruitment and information seminars in Canada and in Africa for potential candidates for teachers of deaf and blind children
  • Establish and provide grants and scholarships to specific qualified candidates who are training in recognised institutions to become teachers of deaf and blind children

To establish, maintain and operate community centers to be used for workshops, athletics, drama, art, music, handicrafts, hobbies and recreation for the benefit of deaf and blind children and young adults.

Activities:

  • Work with local partners to build and support community centers that cater generally to children and specifically to deaf and blind children
  • Hire local personnel to run the centers
  • Fund the expansion of existing facilities
  • Fund the initial operations and maintenance of the community centers
  • Purchase and provide sports equipment that cater for the needs of deaf and blind children

To provide counseling and other support services for the deaf and blind children and youth in Africa, including employment trainings, job search programs, translation services and information programs.

Activities:

  • Identify and fund the expansion of existing community facilities in host African countries
  • Recruit and train qualified candidates to provide counseling and support services for deaf and blind children in Africa
  • Purchase computers and provide computerized information service to be accessed by deaf and blind children and youth
  • Establish a job placement agency to train and provide job search for deaf and blind youth
  • Hold regular seminars and information sessions for potential employers of blind and deaf youth

To educate the public on the debilitating conditions and the needs of deaf and blind children by providing seminars and by collecting and disseminating information on that topic.

  • Organise regular conferences, seminars and information sharing on the needs of deaf and blind children
  • Create and publish and distribute free brochures, pamphlets on various issues and topics relating to the education of successful deaf and blind children around the world generally and specifically in Africa.

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