UNAD USADF - Resource Centre Project
UNAD secured a grant from the United States African Development Foundation to construct a Resource Center to offer a range of services for the Deaf people in Uganda. The project facilitated the construction and furnishing of a resource centerto be used for training both in Sign Language and technical skills. This should help bridge the communication barriers, improve the literacy level of the Deaf and help them acquire knowledge and skills necessary to start and improve their businesses. This will also help create awareness of human rights relating to the Deaf.
The hearing persons will also be trained as Sign Language interpreters and public workers to help the deaf community access services and integrate into the wider society. Initially, the center will focus on training in Sign Language, ICT, Start and Improve Your Business courses, Carpentry and Joinery but later to diversify these skills base to other technical areas beneficiary to the deaf.
The project is targeting to benefit approximately 1,845 people. Although, UNAD is targeting the deaf community and hearing persons, about 90% of the beneficiaries will be the Deaf.
The entire population of the deaf people are potential beneficiaries of the project in addition to their family members, identified and interested non deaf persons especially professionals from different sectors including education, health, business and government personnel in addition to interpreters. However, these numbers are quite huge and the project is aiming at training at least 100 people in sign language per year, training at least 100 deaf people in ICT per year, training 100 in SYB and IYB per year starting from year 2 of the project.
The intake for SYB and IYB trainees will increase from 100 trainees in year two and three to 200 trainees per year in the 4th and 5th year as UNAD gains capacity. The project will also train 100 deaf persons in vocational skills per year starting with year 2 of the project.
UNAD will also undertake refresher training course for 20 sign language volunteer instructors. The center will also conduct training for 20 UNAD Members of Staff to better manage
the center. Further, UNAD will employ 25 instructors with various skills set for the
centre.
The project will contribute to the alleviation of social and economic challenges faced
by the Deaf. With Sign language skills, the Deaf people’s ability to interact with the
community and amongst themselves will be enhanced. Communication will open up
access to social and economic opportunities. ICT training will enhance ability of the
Deaf to access information on economic opportunities available in society. Technical
and business training will also enhance the ability of deaf persons to start their own
business and to improve on the already existing ones.
The USADF project has facilitated the setting up a training facility for Sign Language,
ICT, Carpentry and Joinery, Tailoring and Knitting which not only serve as training
ground on technical skills but also offer business start up and business growth
training programs to aid the graduates set up and manage their own enterprises. The
facility will be managed as an enterprise and serve as a model enterprise where the
learners are mentored and guided further on business operations. The center will
also act as a source of income for UNAD on a sustainable basis through the sale of
products coming from the production units. UNAD already has a curriculum for sign
language but the ones for ICT, carpentry, knitting, tailoring and entrepreneur skills will
be developed in collaboration with expert personnel and schools for the Deaf.
