Education and skills training for Deaf women and girls

Deaf girls world over are hindered from accessing or progressing in school. Other causes of school dropout include lack of teachers with sign language skills and various forms of abuse. It’s important to promote Deaf girl child rights to education in Rwanda, Deaf Girls’ education goes beyond getting girls into school. It is also about ensuring that girls learn and feel safe while in school; have the opportunity to complete all levels of education acquiring the knowledge and skills to compete in the labour market.

A major obstacle to active learning for deaf girls is the lack of knowledge and skills for proper menstruation hygiene management (MHM). Girls in general and deaf girls in particular lack facts about menstruation and its management. As a result, there are a lot of myths surrounding this natural phenomenon. Some affected deaf girls have had their lives shattered because of a sudden onset of her periods at school and the girl’s subsequent fear, shame and confusion. Many have gone on to drop out of school as a result. At RNADW, we spear head a community advocacy campaign which promotes and supports menstruation hygiene of deaf girls. This is helping many to actively pursue their education, stay and progress in school. Girls now have skills of MHM without discomfort or stigma as they get access to health information through Rwandan Sign language.

Without urgent action to remove these barriers to Deaf girls’ education, this health phenomenon could become a major hindrance to education of deaf girls which would be denial of their right to learn.