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St. John's School For The Deaf, Gambia

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Contact Address Details:
St. John's School For The Deaf
Banjul area
Kanifing, MDI Road
Serrekunda, Ksmd
The Gambia, West Africa

Tel no: +220 7709286
                    9331741
Fax:    +45 5926 5243

Email: gudrun@jorsing.dk


Information:
Saint John's is a special school in Gambia for the hard of hearing. The school for the hearing impaired was established in 1984. Its origins go back to 1978 when a nun in Banjul started teaching 7 deaf boys in her residence. As news spread about her work a Norwegian doctor called Hans Grønås and some Catholic priests began an initiative to get funding for the formation of an institution for the deaf.

Support came from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the World Bank which enabled the project to commence with initially 40 students of mixed sexes. Today there are around 230 Christian and Muslim pupils and 30 teachers who provide primary and junior secondary education for the deaf.

The educational institution is operated by the Catholic Church while the government pays the teachers' salaries.

Due to its size it can only cater for around 25% of Gambian children who have audiological impairment or profoundly deaf.

Classes & Courses:
Young boys are taught sign language, metal and wood work to gain skills in producing chairs, cabinets, tables etc. These items are then sold to raise funds for the school's coffers. They also learn the craft of sewing which may become useful if they want to pursue a career as a tailor.

The girls a given classes on sign language, child care, housekeeping duties, needlework and operating a sewing machine to produce uniforms, batiks and other garments.

Food & Self-Sufficiency:
St. John's has its own large garden which grows fruits and vegetables which are served as part of a healthy diet for the the children's dietary requirements.

Sponsorship:
If you wish to sponsor a deaf child then please contact them at the above address. They will provide you with regular updates of your sponsored child's progress in his or her education.















 
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