FOUNDATION OF THE SCHOOL

Foundation of the school

Hargeisa deaf School was founded in September 2001, and is the only and the first school for deaf in Hargeisa region. The foundation of the school was as a result of joint effort by youth and parents, after they felt the negligence, social complex, among the deaf population for a long time in the history of Somali community. Also they have never found their humanitarian basic rights such, education, health, access to information etc. The deaf population as a result of the marginalization believed that they are non productive and not worthy for education.

All the above mentioned problems and others made us decide to unite our minds and efforts to support and improve their living condition by providing education. Besides that the aim was to show that they are member of the population who can learn and work and at the same time can contribute to the wellbeing of the society in general.

During the launching of the school a lot of people from the local community were thinking that it was impossible to teach deaf children and were thinking it as a show.

The first class we started with was ten children and their teacher was a graduate from Wajer, Kenya Deaf institute. At that time there were no chairs, tables; they sat on floor, on tins, on bricks and mats. After some time we made forms without tables with the support of well wishers. However, when the community realized that their children are actually learning and are able to read and write, their moral became higher and firmly stood beside the school providing whatever support they could afford and now they are happy.

Soon the number of pupils increased up to 50 but we faced with the problem of not having enough class rooms, transport, and teachers. The houses we rented were compelled us to move two times because the school has no its own building. There is no suitable building which is good for teaching and learning environment.

Now HDS is hunting to get land from the local government (Hargeisa municipality) have its own school. We HDS very near to succeed and authorizes of Hargeisa municipality (Mayor) promised and signed to support us enough land for building of school for the deaf. We hope this will be positive.

Although the community and some INGOS have supported us still HDS needs to get support from school parents, government, LNGOS and INGOS to develop the interest of deaf population and educate them. This will help the deaf people to have job opportunities as the others and advocate their rights by themselves.

CURRENT SITUATION OF THE SCHOOL

The pupils attend in the school

The students who attend in the school is currently 75(43 boys and 32 girls), aged between 6 and 25 years old.
School classes
The school has five classes from grade 1-5.
Areas they are from:
All regions of Somaliland, most concentrated area is Hargeisa region.
The school syllabus
The school follows the syllabus of the Ministry of Education. The subjects taught are English, Maths, science, social science, Somali and Drawing through sign language.
HDS staff
10 staff works in Hargeisa Deaf School: 6 teachers, the Director, 2 Watchmen, and a cleaner.
DYO Organization
25 students have made their own association, namely Deaf Youth Organization (DYO). DYO, founded in 2005 by the students of Hargeisa Deaf School strives to improve their living conditions and be capable to shape their own future.
DYO envisions deaf children and youth that enjoys full rights and satisfies their needs.
HDS Parent’s Committee (HDSPC)
HDSPC, founded in 2002 by the parents of the Hargeisa deaf School, intends to develop their deaf children and then they made memorandum of understanding in 2006. HDSPC supports the Hargeisa Deaf School in its endeavors to educate their children. HDSPC envisions deaf children enjoy same rights with other children.
Implementing Project

HDS is implementing project called “improvement of education and social situation of deaf children, youth, and their families” which International Deaf Children’s Society (IDCS) in UK has funded in 17 months, started from April 2006 up to August 2007.
Implemented Project
HDS has implemented project called” Improvement of Vocational Training of Youth and Deaf Children” which the pupils had learnt speed training of computers 3 months in 2006. This project, Handicap International has done competition its partners which were four. Nasa-Hablood Handicap Association (NAHA), Disabled Women Organization and Children (HAN) and HDS have won to release fund.
THE NEEDS COVERED CURRENTLY
Contribution

I. Parents
The parents are the main roots of the school. They contribute monthly fee which is in average about 2.5 per student.

II. Handicap International(HI)
Handicap international contributes HDS monthly contribution in 6 months which amounts $295 for the Rent house, 1 teacher, Watchman, water, Internet and Telephone from April to September 2007.

III. Through Danish Refugee Council(DRC)
Hugh Fenton and his family and Gunnar Kraft through DRC contributes monthly contribution 10 months which is $150 for incentive of 2 teachers from March to December 2007.

IV. Radia
Radia (Somali well-wisher) in Diaspora contributes $50 per month for rent.

PREVIUOS SUPPORT HDS has got.
HDS received the following support from the following stakeholders:
1) AET gave 16 months for one teacher $100 per month and 6 month for sewing machine training.

2) IRC paid us 7 months rent for one classroom

3) DRC supported us with computer, Printer, Photocopy and 12desks. Also we have signed an agreement with DRC which Hugh Fenton and his family and Gunnar Kraft had contributed $150 of five months incentive of two teachers.
4) UNICEF denoted 3 boxes of Education kits to HDS such as chalk and textbooks.
5) HI enhanced our institution through providing trainings like administration, finance in 6 months, 4 days of proposal writing and financial support. We have partnership agreements with HI which were 1 year and 3 months.
6) Miss Doreen (British well-wisher) provided us $35 contribution in 1 year, sewing material, video and cassettes and technical support.
8) International Deaf Children Society (IDCS) has accepted and released project which currently HDS is implementing. This project is “improvement of education and social situation of deaf children, youth and their families” it had started in April 2006 and will end in August 2007.

Current NEED of HDS
Although we received the above mentioned support, yet the school which was running now for five years is having difficulties in achieving its aim. So the following are the current needs of the school prioritized:

a. School and office Space for the School.
b. 4 Teachers payment.
c. Education material.
d. Transportation (School bus).
e. Sports material.
f. VTC skills for the grown ups.
g. Teacher training is essential. The two hearing teachers have had some short awareness training from Miss Doreen E. Woodford (Deaf Africa Trust). The deaf teacher is an ex-pupil of a school in Kenya.

Contact person:
The Director of HDS,
Yasmin Abdirahman Hassan

BACKGROUND

M/weyne ku xigeen jsl, wasiirada, masuuliyiinta dawlada, ganacsatada iyo dhamaan martisharafta qiimaha badan ee nagala soo qaybgashay xafladan dhagaxdhiga dugsiga dhagoolaha ee Hargeisa waxaanan leeyahay soo dhawaada waanad ku mahadsantihiin inaad nagala soo qaybgashaan xafladan dhagaxdhiga dugsigan.

Haddii aan hal erey ka yidhaahdoo taariikhda dugsigan soo maray. Dugsigani waxaa la si rasmi ah loo furay sannadkii 2001. wuxuuna shaqaynayey muddo 7 sanno ah. Waxaa wax ka barta arrday tiradoodu ka badan tahay 80 carruur ah oo dhego la oo isug jira 6-21 jir. Wuxuu mudaas dugsigu soo maray marxalado kala duwan oo adag oo iyo duruufo badan oo ay ka mid yihiin dhismo lahaa, mashaharlaan, qalablaan iyo waxyaabo badan. Isagoo aanayu jirin cid si joogto ah ama toos ah u caawisaa ee uu halkaas kusoo gaadhay dadaal iyo sabir iyo ay u horeen maamulka dugsigu iyagoo kaashanaya waalidka.

Wuxuu maantana marayaa marxalad aad iyo aad u wanaagsan wuxuu marayaa fasalkii lixaad dhawaana ardaydiisu haddii alle idmo waxay la fadhiisan doonaan imitixaanaadka fasalka sideedaa wasaarada waxbarashada. Dugsigan oo si rasmi ah uga diiwaangashan wasaarada waxbarashada jsl.

Waxaan u mahadnaqayaa maayarka caasimada iyo maayar xigeenka iyo xoghaya d/hoose iyo agaasimaha waaxda dhulka iyo shirkada jameeco weyn oo dhulkan nawda siiyey. Ilaahayna hadinka abaal mariyo sida muwaadinmada leh ee aad u caawiseen carruurtiina naafada ah. Dugsigan u jeedadii loo aasasay waxay ahayd mid muddo laga baarandeyey aasaskiisiyo agabkiisii. Ee ma ahayn mid caadifad iyo laablakac lagu abuuray, mana socodeen haddii caynkaas loo furi lahaa.

Waxaan ugu baaqayaa dawlada, ganacsatada, jaaliyadaha iyo dhamaanba bulshoweynta reer soomaaliland gudo iyo dibadaba inay kasoo wada qaybqaataan dhismaha dugsigan iyo jirintaankisaba, dugsigan oo ah ka kii ugu horeeyey ee taariikh ahaan iyo keliyaata ee ka jira Gobolkan hargeysa.

Waad salaamantihiin