Ambo Lazarist School for the Deaf in Ambo Ethiopia (two hours west of Addis Ababa) is VLM’s flagship project. It was opened by the Vincentian Community in 2012 with the support of Castleknock College, Misean Cara and Ethiopia Deaf Project.
EDP (Ethiopia Deaf Project) is a 100% voluntary group. It began in 2008 in response to the needs of deaf children and young adults in Ambo, central Ethiopia. These individuals were living in total isolation, most had never been able to communicate with their families or community and they had no experience of sign language. Many had never been allowed outside the house and were kept as workers on family farms. In some instances the families believed their deaf child was cursed and lived with that stigma. Within the already difficult conditions of Ethiopia, the barriers that these children face are made even steeper through poverty and a general lack of education.
After four years of planning, fundraising and crossing of fingers, the Ambo Lazarist School for the Deaf was officially opened on the 30th December 2012. Employing 5 fully qualified teachers of the Deaf (3 of whom are themselves, Deaf) the school firstly offered places to the older Deaf children in the area, aged 11-16yrs. Phase two of the Ambo Lazarist School for the deaf has since been completed with the building of additional classrooms (2015) to welcome the younger children (ages 6-10) into the school.