Provide quality education beyond primary school and middle school for deaf students
Remember Niger helped establish the first secondary school for deaf students in all of Niger. The Niamey Secondary School for the Deaf, which will be completed in two phases, began with the construction of four middle school classrooms. Eventually, the second phase will include the addition of a second floor with four classrooms for the high school.
Since 1980, fewer than 100 students have matriculated to middle school, five students have continued to high school, and only two students have passed the national high school exam. It was not until 2019 that the first deaf student passed the high school exam. The low rate of academic success is a direct reflection of a lack of accommodations and assistance provided to students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
This scholarship will provide support for deaf students in Niger to continue their educations beyond primary school and middle school.
Help Djibo finish his undergraduate degree!
Djibo is one of the remarkable students who will receive support from this fund. He is more than half way to his undergraduate degree and he needs our help! Djibo is currently attending MIssouri State University for the 2024 Spring semester with an exchange program scholarship. After his education is complete, Djibo plans to return to Niger to help provide education for the deaf community. Read more of his story below:
Djibo went deaf at the age of 6. He has worked almost since that time toward the goal of being a leader among the deaf community in Niger. Despite endless obstacles, he has earned his way through each grade level, graduated high school, is the teacher of sign language to younger students, and the coach of the deaf youth soccer team. He has been accepted into Gallaudet University in Washington DC, but the cost of attending Gallaudet is very high. However, Djibo only needs about $10,000 to finish his undergraduate degree at the African Development University! Please consider helping us reach this modest goal that can help Djibo change lives for generations.
Djibo was born in Niger and his parents died when he was only 7 months old. When he was just 6 years old, he suffered a terrible accident while playing with his friends. He hit his head and the trauma was so severe that it caused him to become profoundly deaf. After losing his hearing he continued at the private school. It was very difficult for him because the lessons were mostly presented orally. His sister found out about a primary school for the deaf and at the age of 9 he transferred there. After finishing primary school at the school for the deaf he continued his education in the public school during middle and high school. Djibo would borrow his friend’s notes and copy them at home each night. His brother would also help him with his lessons and pay for tutoring. Djibo worked hard and went on to become the first deaf person in Niger to graduate high school and pass the BAC (the national high school exam). He volunteered for years, teaching sign language to the deaf students in the middle and primary school. Currently he is attending Missouri State University, but the scholarship is an exchange program that only lasts one semester. MO state is very interested in having Djibo back for his graduate studies. I cannot begin to tell you how much and how fast he impressed the staff of the exchange program there! He is even teaching classes in sign language to their staff.
This scholarship fund is being established, in part, to help cover his expenses. Djibo's wish is to return to Niger after earning his graduate degree and be a leader in the deaf community, helping deaf children have more opportunities to succeed.
Djibo and his family in 2020.
Djibo signs his name.