The Minister of Finance and Development Planning Dr. Timothy Thahane officially handed over boys’ dormitory and bathrooms facilities to the Kananelo centre for the deaf at a ceremony held at Ha Bua Sono on April 08, 2011.

The situation in this school was devastating that touched the staff of Global Fund Coordinating Unit (GFCU) to stretch a helping hand by donating a boy’s dormitory and bathroom facilities together with bedside cupboards and pupils’ clothing cabinets. This donation is part of GFCU annual social responsibility to help the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). The event is usually held 1st December during the World AIDS Day but was postponed as the centre was closed for holidays.

The center admit children with speech and hearing impairment and offers primary education up to standard 7 using sign language as mode of communication. Currently the centre has 69 children aged between 6 to 21 years all with speech and hearing disability.

Caption: Honourable Minister of Finance hand over dormitory and bathroom facility to Kananelo centre for the deaf. On the right is the shack that the students used as bathroom before the construction of the donated facility.

Speaking at the occasion, the Manager of Kananelo centre Sister Calextina Mohale thanked GFCU for the support of dormitory and bathrooms because the school was not able to admit more children despite the need due to shortage of space. The children were also bathing in shacks’ bathrooms even during adverse weather conditions of rains and winter colds. Sister Calextina therefore promised that the school will take good care of the new facilities.

She said most of the children admitted at the centre are orphans who lost both parents while other have parents but were abandoned and neglected due to their disabilities.

Sister said the children with speech and hearing impairment only have access to primary education and once complete their basic education they do not have any access to higher education.

She therefore appealed to Government to establish a high school for the deaf to give them access to higher education.

The National Association of Deaf in Lesotho (NADL) Programs Manager Mrs. Likupo Letsoetsa said people with speech and hearing impairment live in a silent world that they are not able to advocate for their needs.

Mrs. Letsoetsa thanked GFCU for supporting Kananelo centre for the deaf. She said NADL countinue to advocate for sign language to be medium of communication in high schools to accommodate children with speech and hearing disability and also advocate for establishment of a high school that offer special education.

In his address the Honourable Minister of Finance Dr. Thahane commended the staff of the Global Fund Coordinating Unit (GFCU) for their commitment and generosity of helping disadvantage children.