Beni School for the Deaf, D. R. Congo (K – 6)
Our newest school, it has approximately 60 students enrolled. Many are teenagers, but have never been to school before. Around a quarter of our students have lost one or both parents through war or diseases such as Ebola.
This school has had great success in developing its own lunch and agriculture programs through our self-sustainability fund. These sustainability projects mean that the students can receive one good meal a day, can learn about agriculture, can find employment working the fields as graduates and can help provide an income for the Deaf community from the produce sold.
In 2022, we expanded our facilities to include a secondary school. This is the fulfilment of a dream to ensure our students can go on to higher eduction and/or meaningful employment.
Self-help Projects
In 2020, we initiated a self-sustainability program at the school. This involved purchasing three lots of farmland to grow crops. The purpose of this program is four-fold: to provide food for the school lunch program, to educate the students in horticulture, to provide employment for graduates of the school, and to provide an income for the school community. Within 9 months, all objectives were being achieved.
Ministry in DR Congo
In a challenging and often violent environment, six churches for the Deaf have been planted that minister to 350 people each week. Evangelists are continuing to take God’s Word to new deaf communities each week.
