Deaf children deserve equal access to education and opportunity. Founded in the UK by a group of educators and advocates, DeafReach was established to respond to the lack of support and resources available to deaf communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We have since grown into a network of partners, professionals, and changemakers committed to one mission: breaking down barriers for deaf children and young people.
- Local schools and education authorities
- Disability and advocacy organisations
- Employers offering inclusive job opportunities
- International donors and development agencies
Together, we build sustainable change and amplify the voices of deaf youth.
Sue Tindall
After 27 years in the computer industry working for Civil Service, an American bank in the City of London, and, finally, a joyous 7 years working as a Business Analyst for Cambridgeshire County Council, I decided on a career change. Retrained as a Garden Designer and have spent the last 25 years developing a plant encyclopedia which is used in a business venture serving Garden Centres.
Chris Kubwimana
Chris Kubwimana was born in Burundi, Africa. He has worked with international organisations such as the International Rescue Committee in Kenya, advising on deaf people who are refugees, focusing on immigration issues and appropriate services for this specific social group. He contributed to the development of a new Sign Language Research Project for Sudanese Deaf refugees, which has now been incorporated into South Sudanese Sign Language.
Profoundly Deaf himself, Chris founded Aurora Deaf Aid Africa (ADAA) in 2007, inspired and motivated by first-hand experiences. The combination of the inadequacy of the education in his childhood, his experiences in working with Deaf refugees in the East African Community (EAC) and visiting his homeland, Burundi, a year earlier, finding that little had improved for deaf children and young adults, all culminated in the establishment of ADAA.
Simone Banks
I came into deaf education as a response to my deafness; I have a cochlear implant and my other ear is aided. After training as a teacher of the deaf, and later a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), I taught in a variety of different deaf settings, including a school for the deaf and a deaf CAMHS (Child and adolescent Mental Health Services) campus school, then as head of a hearing-impaired provision and now as an advisory teacher of the deaf. In between my last two roles, I volunteered with VSO in Rwanda as an inclusive education advisor, and although I have an interest in all areas of special needs, working with deaf children is my passion. More recently, I worked on a Language Profiling Tool to be used in Africa and India, through Deaf Child Worldwide. I am also a trustee of Deafax.
Rod Clark
Most of my working life has been in the voluntary sector, chiefly as CEO of Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association for 20 years. I am involved with a number of national and international charities working in the field of sensory impairment.
Anne Ryan
I have always had an interest in charitable work ever since I was on the charities committee at Aberdeen University (at that time, one of the largest in Europe). After graduating, I moved south to London and qualified as an ACMA, working within advertising, retail, banking and defence electronics. Through a friend, I became a trustee and treasurer for SignHealth, 23 years later, I retired last year. I also spent time as a governor of Fairley House School. Whilst working with SignHealth I was involved with setting up an NGO in Uganda, with whom I am still closely connected. Both my daughter and I are Dyslexic and I have a particular interest in education, especially early years development. I have seen first-hand both here and in Uganda the difference that early intervention makes, particularly but not only to deaf children. I am hoping to channel my passion for education, along with a great deal of charitable experience, into helping Deafreach achieve its goals.
Anthony Eaton
My career was spent almost entirely in the IT (Information Technology) industry. After a short period in a City of London bank, I spent over 30 years in the air transport industry working on various passenger and cargo projects. During this time, work and holidays took me to many parts of the world.
Veronika Thorvardarson
I have lifelong experience of deafness, myself and some members of my family, including my mother. I came to join Deaf Reach through a friend and previous colleague of mine, who is also a trustee for Deaf Reach. Having first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced when faced with deafness, I am very passionate about deaf education and overcoming the barriers that life can present. I am especially passionate about improving deaf education and audiology in Africa, as I am part African and know the challenges faced in Africa with special education needs and disabilities.
I trained as a secondary school teacher (Information and Communication Technology) and then trained as a teacher of deaf children and young people and recently completed a Master’s in Educational Audiology.