Teaching for the Haiti Deaf Academy

My name is Madelyn Smith and I'm a deaf education major from Stephen F. Austin University in Texas. I'm trying to raise $2,500 to benefit the Haiti Deaf Academy. I will be volunteering for a 5 week internship to teach the deaf children their names and how to communicate. Hopefully with your help, these children will become empowered in order to claim the dignity of independence and self reliance.

Accurate statistics are not known, but the vast majority of Haitian deaf children do not have access to education taught in sign language and as a result are often not qualified for employment and are completely dependent on others for survival. Many are impoverished. Some do not even know their own name, and have no way to communicate whatsoever.

Our vision is for the Deaf in Haiti to be empowered and self-reliant.
By providing a nurturing Christian environment and access to language development, academic and spiritual education, vocational training, job placement and deaf advocacy training, we believe we will equip the children with the skills they need to qualify for employment and a future of independence.