The current Constitution of Zimbabwe, adopted in 2013, recognizes sign language as one of the country’s official languages. Yet, the approximately 1.5 million deaf Zimbabweans in the country experience significant challenges in navigating life. As Lydia Chikate described in 2022, an activist who is working to promote the use of Zimbabwean Sign Language, most deaf people in Zimbabwe “are suffering on the streets as beggars or vendors.” Additionally, a 2012 research article published in the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education noted that deaf students in Zimbabwe rarely make it to high school. This article highlights organizations helping the deaf community in Zimbabwe overcome these challenges that force them into poverty.

1. Deaf Zimbabwe Trust

One organization helping the deaf community in Zimbabwe is Deaf Zimbabwe Trust. Founded in 2012 and based in Harare, Zimbabwe, Deaf Zimbabwe Trust initially originated to promote human rights for deaf Zimbabwean children. Deaf Zimbabwe Trust still supports equal educational opportunities for deaf children in Zimbabwe, but in the 10 years since its establishment, the organization has experienced substantial transformation and expanded to offer services to the entire deaf community in Zimbabwe.

Deaf Zimbabwe Trust now works to promote human rights for all deaf Zimbabweans by influencing policy, promoting better health outcomes for deaf Zimbabweans through the use of interpreters, teaching sign language, researching evidence-based interventions and empowering deaf women. Through this work, Deaf Zimbabwe Trust envisions a world where all deaf and hard-of-hearing people can live independent, dignified lives with the same rights and opportunities that are available to hearing people.

2. NZEVE Deaf Centre

Another organization helping the deaf community in Zimbabwe is NZEVE Deaf Centre. Founded in 2000 and based in Mutare, Zimbabwe, NZEVE Deaf Centre caters to the needs of deaf Zimbabwean children and youth, as well as their families. The organization’s work includes running a preschool for deaf children, providing early detection and intervention services, improving deaf Zimbabweans’ access to various forms of health care, encouraging deaf leadership and promoting social justice.

Through this work, NZEVE Deaf Centre has supported 237 deaf Zimbabwean children, provided education to 202 deaf Zimbabwean children, provided training to 99 deaf Zimbabwean youth and trained 157 workers. Additionally, NZEVE Deaf Centre has partnered with Mrs. Kadzora’s Garden Project, which now employs deaf Zimbabweans and other Zimbabweans with disabilities in Zimbabwe’s farming industry. NZEVE Deaf Centre does this work with the goal of creating a world where deaf people are viewed as valued members of society.

3. Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe

An additional organization helping the deaf community in Zimbabwe is Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe. Founded in 2017 and based in Harare, Zimbabwe, Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe specifically focuses on empowering deaf Zimbabwean young women and girls. Alongside hosting an annual Miss Deaf Pride pageant, Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe works to provide education and opportunities to deaf women and girls.

Other work that Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe carries out includes sign language education, self-advocacy training, disability rights training and entrepreneurship and career development training. Within the organization’s entrepreneurship and career development training, Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe teaches deaf women and girls how to make jewelry so that they can embark on lucrative careers in jewelry making. Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe does this work with the goal of enabling deaf women and girls to feel more confident in themselves.

4. Sunrise Sign Language Academy

A final organization helping the deaf community in Zimbabwe is Sunrise Sign Language Academy. Based in Harare, Zimbabwe, Sunrise Sign Language Academy focuses specifically on Zimbabwean Sign Language education to make all aspects of life more accessible to deaf Zimbabweans. It is currently hard for deaf Zimbabweans to access equal health care, equal opportunities and equal recognition in society due to a lack of people who know sign language and, therefore, a lack of people able to communicate with deaf people. In teaching sign language to influential members of society, including but not limited to clergy, education professionals, medical professionals and legal professionals, Sunrise Sign Language Academy hopes to bridge that gap.

Sunrise Sign Language Academy also has the goal of making Zimbabwean Sign Language something that all households in Zimbabwe know. This is an important endeavor, as many deaf people worldwide currently end up suffering from Language Deprivation Syndrome, a result of a lack of language input from an early age.

Looking Ahead

While there is still a long way to go before the deaf community in Zimbabwe achieves full equality, these organizations have helped them take strides in that direction. It is thanks to their tireless efforts that many deaf Zimbabweans have been able to access educational opportunities, career development opportunities and more.

– Natalie Coyne
Photo: Flickr