Kenya Deaf Children Trust

Kenya Deaf Children Trust (KDCT) is a Anglo-Irish charity that supports Kenya's Deaf Community and Kerugoya School for the Deaf and have been closed down and is no longer in operation.

KDCT's head office was based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The trust was founded by three people Catherine Healey, Katrina Gwynne-Jones the Hon. Secretary and Shane Gilchrist Ó hEorpa the Chair. Its Patron is not appointed yet.

KDCT's activities include:


 * providing quality education for Deaf children and Deaf people in Kenya
 * to support Kerugoya School for the Deaf
 * to promote and develop bilingual education in Kenya's Deaf schools using Kenyan Sign Language and English.

Trustees does not agree with or do the below:


 * campaigning and lobbying, with the help of members, to change laws and government policies
 * providing information and raising awareness of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus
 * giving training courses and consultancy on deafness and disability
 * offering communication services including sign language interpreters
 * training KSL/English interpreters
 * making lasting change in education for deaf children and young people
 * supporting deaf people into work with the organisations employment programmes
 * providing care services for deaf and hard of hearing people with additional needs
 * developing equipment and products for deaf and hard of hearing people
 * social, medical and technical research.
 * to support the Eastern Africa Centre for Deaf Studies
 * to develop the Family Centre in Nairobi

History
Kenya Deaf Children Trust was founded in Belfast in 2005 by Shane Gilchrist Ó hEorpa and Katrina Gwynne-Jones.

It started with Catherine Healey visiting Kenya many years ago to help with teacher training at Kerugoya School for the Deaf.

Shane Gilchrist Ó hEorpa and Monica Clarke went over in 2000 - Katrina Gwynne-Jones and Rebecah Taylor went over - Kibra Tayes went too. Fiona McLean and Matthew went.

Shane Gilchrist Ó hEorpa and Monica Clarke have discussed the idea of setting up the organisation in 2000 soon after their voluntary work but it was never taken seriously until Katrina etc...

Shane Gilchrist Ó hEorpa have resigned from the Board as the Chair on 1st April 2007.

At the last Board meeting (taken place in Craigavon), it was agreed by all Trustees to close down Kenya Deaf Children Trust on Thursday 17th May 2007 due to internal politics. The charitiable status is to be withdrawn in request from the Board.