Project Goals

Developing capabilities to use ICT in the improvement of quality educational access for Hearing impaired Children.

Project description

Michael Lapsley Foundation is currently seeking funds to run the computer literacy programme for the Deaf (CLP-DC). The Foundation believes that the Government’s Education Strategic Plan of 2003-2015 which aims at promoting ICT as an integral part of educational system of the country will be incomplete without the involvement of children with hearing impaired.

Ghana as a country has made a lot progress in introducing technology to enhance teaching and learning in schools. Despite increased accessibility and expansion, computer literacy has not been achieved by a majority of students and individuals especially Deaf children. The current situation in Ghana shows that there is no computer education for Deaf children.

The intervention of this project is to make a lasting impact in the lives of these children and alleviate inequality in our educational settings. We are in the age of information technology and all children must have basic knowledge in computer programme to be abreast with technological development. We are therefore committed to implement this project to address the above –identified needs in favour of the hearing children.

Project Beneficiaries

The direct Project beneficiaries are the hearing-impaired children and youth aged between 8- 25years, their families and the communities.

Project #002

Library projects for the Children with special needs

Projects Description.
From our research desk it has been reveled that teaching and learning materials for the visually and hearing impaired students in Ghana are woefully inadequate and it is against this background that the projects hopes to address. Michael Lapsley Foundation as an organization has done a lot in the areas of supplying Braille materials such Braille papers, frames, Braille games ,Books, toys for some selected special schools in Ghana and we think it is not enough. We are now networking with some selected special schools in USA, UK and Europe to support this laudable project to bring smiles to thousands of children in Ghana.

Project Schools
Volta School for the Deaf- Hohoe (Volta Region)
Bechem School for the Deaf-Bechem (Brong Ahafo Region)
Wa School for the Blind-Wa (upper west Region)
Wa school for the Deaf and Mentally Retarded- Wa (upper west Region)
Savelugu School for the Deaf- Savelugu (Northern Region)
Cape Coast School for the Deaf-Cape Coast (Central Region)
State Demonstration for the Deaf-Adjei Kojo (Greater Accra)
Mampong School for the Deaf- Mampong Akuapim (Eastern Region)
Akropong School for the Blind. - Akropong (Eastern Region)

Project #003
Community’s library projects.

Projects Description.

A larger percentage of the Ghanaian population is not enthusiastic about reading. in most of the libraries we visited ,there were not enough facilities, some of the libraries were poorly stocked and most of them are in dilapidated state, the information is not up –to-date, some of the materials are too technical for the readers.Becase of Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education, there are millions of persons in primary and secondary schools who do not have access to libraries .it is against this background that the programme is been initiated to make textbooks accessible to this deprived primary, secondary post secondary schools and community libraries . We decided to pursue this project to help minimize the high level of illiteracy rate among the deprived communities in Ghana and thereby in inculcate the spirit of reading among Ghanaian.

Project #004
Inclusion and disabled childrens rights

Project goal: To Assists Disabled children and their families acquire Knowledge and skills in deaf Children’s Rights and inclusion.

Projects Description.
Disabled children represent an important segment of the Ghanaian population. Appreciating their needs and wishes would help to ensure that they receive the needed spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical support to attain their goals in life. However, relatively little is known about the education and social development of Disabled children in the country and this can be partially attributed to the “perception” of the local people that the presence of such children in families is a bad omen or curse. A survey was conducted and sponsored by the Foundation on the problems faced by Disabled children in the Brong Ahafo, Upper west and northern regions of Ghana. It was found out that, the Disabled children face the following problems in the studies area; low self-esteem, lack of inclusion, lack of rights of children awareness, health related problems. It is therefore necessary for us to respond swiftly to the genuine needs of these under privileged and marginalized people in our society. In order to ensure involvement in the process, families need to become knowledgeable about early intervention service systems and their rights under the law. The earlier these skills are learned, the easier it will be for parents to become effective advocates for their children and to acquire better communication skills for team planning and advocating for their child. The programme hopes to give parents the confidence, knowledge, and skills they need to help their children obtain the education, health care, and other services they deserve.
If the interests of disabled children are not recognized, then the key goal of poverty reduction in developing countries will not be achieved, nor will their human rights or their participation in society be promoted

Project #006
inclusion of deaf children through Arts and culture.

Projects Description
Michael Lapsley Foundation is the implementing agency for inclusion of deaf children through arts and culture. The rationale behind this project is to develop and improve the capacity of deaf youth, to create the platform for the deaf youth to voice out their grievances through artistic means, and to create a sustainable employment for the youth who cannot continue their education. The biggest challenge for deaf children and youth on personal level is the problem of communication and it is against this backdrop we are embarking this project. We are therefore seeking funds to establish a vibrant clubs in selected deaf schools in the country. Our thematic areas for the formation of the clubs will be: Dance and Drama club, Visual arts Club and Fine arts club. Four schools will be selected to start the project, namely Bechem, Mampong, cape cost and savelugu.After taking 5month to go through various stages in the project phases, a grand festival will be organize to showcase what they have learnt and also attract stakeholders to support deaf initiatives.

Destiny youth summit 2008
Youth are the most important partner or agent who can contribute a great role in bringing social and economic development in a country. They are the symbol of changes and development. The pace of development is determined by their vision, spirit and enthusiasm the amalgamation of which will lead a country to the summit of development
The primary objective of DYS is to exchange the views of the youth from different background. It would be the first of its kind towards promoting peace, universal harmony and brotherhood among the youth in today complicated and confused world. It would be an effective and reliable forum for promoting youth relations and besides it would also promote arts and culture, tourism and trade.