In Tanzania today, thousands of deaf children live without access to the basic education every child deserves. While the country has made progress in expanding primary and secondary schooling, children with hearing impairments remain among the most underserved and overlooked.
In Tanzania, there are an estimated 690,000 deaf people and less than 1% of deaf children are in any education program. As a result, deaf children often remain isolated at home, excluded from classrooms, unable to communicate, and cut off from opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Many face a lifetime of stigma and poverty simply because they have been denied the gift of education.
Eastern PA has a history of commitment to deaf education. Under Bishop Johnson’s leadership, many of our churches committed to deaf interpretation in our congregations. In addition, we began educating congregations and communities about the needs for deaf education locally and globally. Today, you are invited to be a part of building the Yatosha deaf school in Tanzania, the first United Methodist deaf school in the world.
Introducing a God-sized Vision: Yatosha Deaf School: A Center of Excellence
The Yatosha Deaf School is a vision rooted in compassion, justice, and the belief that every child is created in the image of God. Meaning “It is enough,” Yatosha reflects our conviction that the era of exclusion for deaf children must come to an end.
We are committed to building a center of excellence where deaf children in Tanzania can learn, grow, and thrive—a place where communication is possible, learning is joyful, and every child is empowered to reach their God-given potential.
On June 21, 2023, Fred Michaels, the Director of the Yatosha Deaf Ministry in the Mwanza District, Rev. Dr. Tom Hudspeth, consultant for the United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministries, and other supporters broke ground at the future site of the school. They dedicated the site to the honor and glory of God by erecting a concrete marker bearing a plaque and offering a blessing in sign language. God blessed them too – with the first rainfall in two months!
By supporting Yatosha Deaf School, you and your congregation have an opportunity to:
- Break cycles of silence, isolation, and poverty
- Open doors to education that have never existed before in Tanzania
- Share the love of Christ through accessible communication
- Equip a new generation of deaf leaders for their families, churches, and communities
Pastor Isaya Mwita of First Deaf UMC of Viwege, Dar es Salaam shares about the importance of Yatosha Deaf School: “First, because at a Deaf school the students can get learning in their minds that will affect that entire life in the future as a Deaf person. Second, God has given us many things, many gifts… various languages and ways to express ourselves, for working together as community. In a Deaf school the children can learn to have a good wonderful future life. Third, a Deaf school builds children to encourage each other to develop and grow in life and help each other to achieve and help others to realize their God-given gifts to the whole world.”
This is more than a school—it is a ministry, a movement, and a testimony of God’s love made visible.
How Your Church Can Help Build This Vision
Every dollar makes a significant impact, and every gift is life-giving. Together, we can break cycles of isolation and create a future filled with hope, dignity, and opportunity.
Make a donation today at https://www.epaumc.org/fortanzania/