Breaking barriers: Sports programme empowers deaf youth

Founder and Director Gloria Njoki emphasized the importance of sports in building confidence, teamwork and negotiation skills

by STAR REPORTER

Counties09 March 2025 - 18:38

In Summary

According to Kenya National Population Census of 2019, a larger portion of the deaf population lives in rural areas.

The Deaf Outreach Organization has launched a sports programme aimed at empowering young deaf Kenyans through sports.

This initiative comes at a crucial time, as studies show that 5.5 percent of the world population experiences hearing loss, with Kenya alone having approximately 2.7 million people with hearing impairments.

The initiative will use sports as a tool to enhance inclusion for deaf youth, particularly girls in three deaf supporting academic institutions of Machakos School for the Deaf, St Luke’s School for the deaf in Embu and Mary Magdalene School for the deaf at Riandu in Mbeere North Sub County.

The program, called Leveling the playing Field for deaf Youth in Livelihood and Skills Training, seeks to address discrimination in Sports and create opportunities for young deaf individuals.

Speaking during a stakeholders training session at the deaf outreach program office in Runyenjes in Embu County, the program founder and Director Gloria Njoki emphasized the importance of sports in building confidence, teamwork and negotiation skills.

“For a long time, deaf youth have faced exclusion in sports. Through this program, we aim to restore their presence in sporting events while equipping them with key life skills that will contribute to their personal and professional success,” Njoki said.

Funded by Laureus Organization, the program will take place at deaf learning institutions and offer accessible content for digital space.

It aims to reach out to at least 600 deaf learners, including over 300 girls aged 15-24.

“By integrating both online and offline resources, we ensure that no learner is left behind due to geograpghical barriers or time constraints,” she stated.

Further, she urged the government and the public to embrace sign language as a recognized mode of communication to steer greater inclusion.

The stakeholder training, held on Friday, brought together trainers and representatives from institutions across Embu County, Machakos and other regions.

They emphasized on need for collective effort to mainstrean deaf disability rights through education, sports and accessible technologies.

Sharon Mukami, a DEAFOP Champion and a sign language teacher at St Mary Goreti high school in Embu, applauded the program and said it will serve a boost in skills absorption.

She noted the sign language as among the best perfomed subjects in school and encouraged more school to embrace the subject.

“I’m a very proud sign language teacher today observing the deaf students and young people at the verge of recognition and empowered,” she said.

According to Kenya National Population Census of 2019, a larger portion of the deaf population lives in rural areas.

Further the report states access to education and employment opportunities for deaf individuals remains among the most challenging for the deaf due to limited awareness and lack of accommodations.