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What is Kavre.Kala?

Kavre.Kala, a not-for-profit organization, works in collaboration with Kavre Development Association of Deaf in Nepal and the International Center for Health Concerns (ICHC) in East Granby, CT.  Established in 2007, Kavre.Kala’s mission is to promote deaf education, financial security, and self-empowerment for deaf people in Nepal. The mission is accomplished by:

  • Teaching photography and other skills to deaf students as an income-generating program
  • Fostering self-sustaining individuals and sources of income
  • Educating and inspiring the deaf community regarding their future
  • Working with fair-trade stores and craft fairs in Nepal and the U.S. to sell Kavre.Kala products
  • Supporting existing vocational programs and health camps run by KDAD
  • Enabling a greater percentage of the population to receive sign-language training and education
  • Developing a curriculum specific to the deaf culture
 Background
  • 17-25% of the population of Nepal is deaf or hearing impaired. Accurate statistics are difficult to obtain, due in part to the geographic isolation of the villages.
  • Nepal is among the poorest in the world and the poorest in Asia.
  • Most Nepalese live on $1/day or less.
  • 85% of Nepalese don’t have access to health care. There is one doctor for every 18,000 people.

The deaf face a bleak future. Few of the deaf population have access to sign language, and even fewer are able to attend one of the limited number of deaf schools.  Students often travel several hours each way to attend school.  There is no curriculum designed for deaf learners in Nepal, and schools can often only accommodate the elementary level.

         There are few vocational training programs for the deaf in Nepal. Local communities are gaining more knowledge and understanding of deaf culture. However, given the high percentage of deaf people, negative views of the deaf community, limited access to education and transportation, and limited number of employment opportunities, it can be very difficult for deaf individuals to earn income.
 
The Kavre Deaf School & the Kavre Development Association of Deaf

The Kavre Deaf School is overseen by a team of local staff and volunteers from the Kavre Development Association of Deaf (KDAD). Established to promote and educate the deaf community, the Kavre Deaf School provides numerous programs for those who are deaf or have other disabilities.  Programs include:

  • Education and deaf literacy training
  • Vocational training and employment
  • Social development programs and protecting deaf rights
  • Health camps in surrounding villages, including deaf screenings
  • Nepali Sign Language training in rural villages

SUCCESS STORIES
In the spring of 2006, KDAD visited a rural village in Nepal.  During the health clinic, KDAD treated around 100 individuals with health problems and identified one girl as being deaf.  She had no way to communicate with her family and no schooling. After attending the free sign-language training for 6 months, she began attending the Kavre Deaf School.  She is now in class 4 and is happy and eager to learn. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Donate. Funds are needed for health care and education. All donations to Kavre.Kala are tax-deductible. Please make checks payable to ICHC and note Kavre.Kala.

Contribute.  Digital cameras and media cards are needed for the deaf students to use in their income-generating photography project. For more information and details on how to donate, contact Kavre.Kala@ichc-us.org.