Case Study: Empowering Durgappa through our partners

Durgappa, is an 11-year-old boy living in Karnataka, India. In recent years Durgappa has made remarkable strides in his educational journey thanks to the collaboration between Deaf Child Worldwide and our partner NGO Prarambha.

By providing funding, deaf awareness training, and specialist support to Prarambha, we are helping children like Durgappa.

When Prarambha first started working with Durgappa, due to his deafness, he was unable to communicate with his family or wider community and wasn’t attending school. Prarambha were instrumental in supporting both Durgappa and his parents, teaching the family sign language and assisting his journey to accessing education.

The significant progress that Durgappa has made is thanks to working closely with childhood deafness and education experts in the region such as Ravi Ramappa. Ravi is a teacher of the deaf on Deaf Child Worldwide’s team with over twenty years’ experience in special educational needs. Through his work with Prarambha, he has been pivotal in supporting Durgappa, facilitating his access to education, and helping his family to access government support. He regularly visits the school and meets with Durgappa, his teachers and parents ensuring his progress.

Over the past five years, Durgappa attended his local Government Higher Primary School. He has increased his school attendance and interaction within the classroom, which has enhanced his overall academic performance.

Communication in Class

Durgappa is now able to communicate in class through Indian Sign Language (ISL). His classmates have also learned sign language, fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere in the classroom. This inclusive approach not only enables Durgappa to actively participate in classroom activities but also promotes understanding and cooperation among his peers.

Academic Achievement

Recently, Durgappa achieved a huge landmark, undertaking his first board examination, covering subjects like Mathematics, English, and Environmental Science.

Looking to the future more widely, the recent introduction of state-level board examinations for deaf children in India holds significant implications for inclusive education. It establishes a standardised evaluation system, ensuring fair recognition of academic achievements among deaf students. It is hoped that the exams will drive improvements in educational resources and support systems, fostering better academic outcomes and opportunities for marginalised deaf children like Durgappa across India.

Durgappa's journey illustrates how education initiatives can empower deaf children to realise their full potential. Through our collaboration with Prarambha, children like Durgappa are achieving academic success, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape.