School for Deaf Children

The school came to the attention of CSA as an institution which seems worthy of support to help improve its facilities. One CSA volunteer, a qualified teacher of the hearing impaired, already visits the school to offer craft activities.

The school provides a teaching environment for 327 deaf children aged 7-15 years. 150 of those are either weekly boarders, or stay at the school permanently, the remainder being day pupils. Most boarders return to their families during the summer months. The building is shared with 500 refugees from the countryside around Baku, although they live independently from the school.

As is often the case, the fabric of the building is in a poor state of repair, and it is a constant struggle to maintain a reasonable level of comfort. The roof and windows leak, the heating is almost non-existent and the washing/sanitary facilities are completely inadequate for the number of children living there. There are a number of poorly maintained toilet blocks, but only one bathroom/shower room to cater for the 150 children.

The bedrooms are very cramped, with no space between beds, and many bed-frames and mattresses are rusted and sagging. The kitchen and classrooms are also in need of renovation, and the entire electrical system is dangerously overloaded.

A fundraising campaign was launched in May 2008 to improve the conditions at the school. Later that month, a sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous, came forward and together with Hess who donated $20,000, the renovation project could start in the summer of 2008.

In 2010 the girls dormitory underwent a major overhaul with donations from Hess and Irish Society. Nathalie Benson, a CSA volunteer and qualified teacher of the hearing impaired, devised some sign books and 300 copies were printed, financed by Rapid Solutions.

Existing facilities at the deaf school

In early 2009, the opening of the renovated boys dormitory took place in the presence of Hess and the donor who wishes to remain anonymous. New bathroom facilities and new beds made the transformation complete.

The new bathroom facility

Sandra Gentile, country manager of Hess