India
India is the second most populous country in the world and home to over 1.16 billion people which makes up 16% of the worlds population. Development gains are steadily being made in relation to the targets set for the Millenium Development Goals, particularly in relation to primary education and the literacy rate now stands at 65% according to the UNDP.
India has over 3.6 million deaf children and according to professional estimates only 1 in 10 are in school and an even fewer number of deaf children go to school. Our first country programme was established in India and we are committed to creating long-lasting change for deaf children and their families in India.
We work through both partner organisations and also through parents groups.
We currently work with 5 partners across 5 states including West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and support 7 parents groups in West Bengal.
Deaf Child Worldwide is supporting Graham Bell Centre for the Deaf (GBCD), based in Pandua in West Bengal. GBCD was set up 18 years ago and works with rural deaf children, parents, teachers and community health workers. The aim of the project is to ensure that deaf children are identified as early as possible and given the appropriate support to become active members of their community. To do this GBCD works very closely with the child's parents and wider family and with community members. Parents are also trained and empowered to lobby for the rights of their deaf child and to improve the services available to them locally such as education and health services
Read more about this project
We have a new project starting in West Bengal with our latest partner - Sanchar. Sanchar was established in 1988 and works with children and adults with disabilities in the rural areas of West Bengal. Over the past 20 years, Sanchar has become one of the leading disability organisations in India.Sanchar believes in a barrier free environment where deaf people are involved and consultated in the decisons that affect their lives.
The project aims to empower parents to demand better services for their deaf child. This wil be done through training sessions with parents on how to communicate with their deaf child and how to ensure that they are included in community life and that their needs are provided for.
Read more about this project
NIH was set up in 2002 primarily to support deaf children and children with mental disabilities and has grown ever since. It now runs a special school for the heaing impaired and children with mental disabilities. NIH also built a space for the parents to come togeher and support each and share their stories and experiences.
Read more about this
