Center for the Deaf and Mute

Deaf student

A deaf student thanks Shelter Now in sign language.

Education is still desperately lacking in Afghanistan. And anyone wishing to make improvements needs a lot of patience. The disabled are especially hard hit. Without an education it's virtually impossible for them to find paid work. Since 2005, Shelter Now has been running a center for the deaf and mute.

The center looks very much like any other school, but it is in fact a lot more than that. Male and female students are taught in separate classrooms, their ages ranging from about 8 to 40 years old. They are taught sign language along with reading, writing and basic math. They are also provided with vocational training, depending on their interests and gifting and receive support later when they begin looking for a job.

This project is still very much in its early stages. Nevertheless there are already some success stories. The first school graduate has been successfully placed in a job and is now supporting himself. The students have developed a remarkable level of self-confidence. This is particularly noticeable among the women and girls. It's great to sit in on a class and see that it really is possible, through a project like this, to restore human dignity.

It costs around US $45 a month for us to run this program for a deaf and mute student at the center.