Welcome to Sega Deaf Unit!
Our History
Sega Deaf Unit was established in 2009 by Ms. Rosemary Umira. She started the Unit with just 4 students, 2 boys and 2 girls in a small room at the local church. After time and growth the Unit was moved onto the premises of Sega Township Primary School who graciously gave up a classroom for them to use. As the population grew the Unit gained another T.S.C. Certified employee and eventually another classroom was built. At this time we have outgrown the facilities available to us and have a deep desire to purchase land and build a boarding school for the Deaf here in Sega and the entire Ugenya district.
The Need
In total we need classrooms, dormitories, a dining hall/kitchen, and an administration block. Most importantly we need the land to build on. Fortunately land has already been identified for us to build on and we just need to raise the necessary funds to get our school on it's feet!
The Population
Currently the Unit has 20 students aging in range from 4-18 spread across a Nursery class, Class/STD 1 (first grade), and Class/STD 2 (second grade). The majority of our students walk at least an hour to get to and from school every morning, some far enough they need to use public transportation which they cannot always afford (which affects attendance). Of the 20 students in our Unit 4 live with their biological parents who do not know Sign Language. In addition to the 20 that are able to make it on a regular basis we also have 3 students under a home based care program due to multiple disabilities including deafness. Seven students are living in surrounding villages and are currently receiving no education because the distance between the unit and their home is just too great. There are 7 children from another unit who were also not receiving education and stopped attending school. Five Deaf children are in a neighboring town in a school for mentally and physically handicapped students. If a boarding Deaf school was built we could not only educate these students that are behind, but we could educate them more effectively as daily travel would no longer be an issue.
Our Stories
L is 6 years old. Her father died which led her mother to remarry a man who doesn't want anything to do with her. She lives 17 km (10.5) miles away from Sega Unit and her Mom walks her to school everyday and waits in town until she's finished for the day. Her step-father is a Bota bota driver (bicyclist who ferries people from one place to another), he bikes into Sega everyday but refuses to carry L with him.
J just turned 7 years old. She lives in town with her Grandmother because neither of her parents accepted her when they found out she was Deaf.
I is 6 years old. He is Deaf and also suffers from Cerebral Palsy. He is lucky enough to live with both of his parents. He travels 3 km (1.8 miles) by a bota bota everyday to school.
J is 7 years old. He too was rejected by both of his parents and is now living with his Grandmother who often keeps him from school to work in the farm. He walks 7 km (4.5 miles) to get to school everyday.
R is 10 years old. Both of her parents have passed away. She now lives with an Aunt who is the approximate age of a Grandmother. She walks 7 km (4.5 miles) to get to school. A few weeks ago she came into my classroom and put her head down and cried. She walked 7 km with a fever of at least 103 degrees.
D is 11 years old. He lives in town with both of his parents.
E is 11 years old. Upon his mother's passing, his father remarried to a woman who was not interested in caring for a Deaf child. He now lives with his Grandparents who ferry him to and from school everyday, 4 km (2.5 miles).
C is 9 years old. He lives with both his parents and travels by bota bota 8 km (5 miles) to and from school.
M is 16 years old. Before attending Sega Deaf Unit he was a Shepherd being severely underpaid for his work. Both of his parents passed away, he now lives with a Grandmother and walks 8 km (5 miles) to get to school.
M is 14 years old. He lives with both his parents and walks 8 km (5 miles) to get to school.
S is 18 years old. This is her second term in a place catered for Deaf students. Before attending school at the Unit she was a house girl. Both of her parents has passed away and she is now living with another student's Grandmother and walks 7 km (4.5 miles) to and from school. She has also missed school to work in the farm.
L is 18 years old. She is also a former house girl. Both of her parents passed away and is living with a Grandmother. She walks 4 km (2.5 miles) to get to school.
M is 12 years old. Both her parents passed away and she's living with another student's Grandmother. Before attending school with us she was being misused in her village doing work for very little if any pay. She walks 7 km (4.5 miles) to get to school.
P is 9 years old. His father passed away and is living with his mother currently. He walks a whopping 9 km (5.5 miles) to get to school.
C is 14 years old. Her father passed away and she now lives with her mother who tends to misuse her at home. She walks 5 km (3 miles) to get to school.
If you'd like to make a donation please contact me at cindy.weaver3@gmail.com. Anything given would be greatly appreciated!!!
