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
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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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