Kentalis International Foundation

04/08/2026

Last year, in collaboration with Organisation of Special Needs Education Teachers - OSNET, a group of educational professionals were trained in the Reading Method for Early Literacy (RMEL). This program equips educators with the knowledge and skills to teach reading to deaf and hard-of-hearing children, whose literacy development differs significantly from that of their hearing peers. This July, all Kentalis-trained teacher trainers - ‘RMEL coaches’ - came together for a refresher training, further strengthening their expertise and enhancing their ability to independently train other teachers in the RMEL.

📚 🙌 We are now proud to share that two RMEL coaches have already independently facilitated RMEL training sessions. RMEL coach Safina Shabani Ibrahim organized a two-day training program at Kilakala Primary School in Morogoro, an inclusive school where deaf and hard-of-hearing learners are enrolled. RMEL coach Justine Mnzava facilitated a knowledge-sharing session at Mbaramo Primary School in Tanga, another inclusive school serving both deaf and hard-of-hearing learners.

💡 Both trainings provided valuable opportunities for professional development, introducing new teaching methods and educational tools that rely on visual rather than auditory input. Participants also explored key theories to language acquisition and literacy development among deaf and hard-of-hearing learners.

We are grateful to all our RMEL coaches for their commitment to sharing this knowledge and promoting the RMEL's inclusive approaches across Tanzania. Their efforts, together with the support of OSNET, are helping create more inclusive learning environments where every child can have access to teaching methods that match their learning needs.

30/07/2026

📚 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆?

This question is at the heart of a project we're proud to be working on: the development of a 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 for deaf learners.

Traditional literacy assessments are generally based on the learning pathways of hearing children. However, deaf learners often acquire language and literacy through different experiences and methods, which means assessment approaches need to reflect these differences.

💡 The tool we are developing is designed to help teachers gain insight into key early literacy skills, including vocabulary, language comprehension, reading level, and sign language-related competencies. By incorporating sign language activities and visual supports, the assessment aims to provide a more accurate and meaningful picture of learners' literacy development. Ultimately, our goal is to equip educators with a practical tool that can help identify strengths and support needs early, enabling targeted instruction and stronger literacy outcomes for deaf learners.

👨‍🏫 The first version of the tool has already been piloted in schools, providing valuable insights that will help further strengthen and refine the assessment. Later this year, we will also be delivering training for teachers and education professionals on how to use the tool to support literacy development in their classrooms.

We are excited to work alongside the Organisation of Special Needs Education Teachers (OSNET) in creating more inclusive assessment approaches that recognize and build on the strengths of deaf children.

🌟 Keep an eye on our socials for more updates about the tool!

22/07/2026

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 📖🤟

This week in Morogoro, Tanzania, all Kentalis-trained teacher trainers came together for a refresher training on the Reading Method for Early Literacy (RMEL) – an effective method that supports young deaf children in learning to read.

The group of teacher trainers ('RMEL coaches') is diverse and represents different levels of the education system:
🔹 primary schools
🔹 secondary schools
🔹 teachers’ colleges
🔹 the Ministry of Education

Through this refresher training, the RMEL coaches further strengthened their knowledge and skills to independently train other teachers in the RMEL.

We are proud that our partner organization Organisation of Special Needs Education Teachers (OSNET) will facilitate future trainings, ensuring that the RMEL coaches can continue to train teachers across Tanzania. This helps more deaf children gain access to quality methods for learning how to read.

In addition, the coaches will independently train teachers in their own regions to multiply the effect. 📈

We look back on a productive week together, where many questions were asked, answered and asked again. Together with OSNET and the amazing team of RMEL coaches, we continue to learn and work on a better future for deaf learners in Tanzania.

21/07/2026

17/06/2026

💡 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖ô𝘁𝗲 𝗱'𝗜𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲

Last April and May, Kentalis International, in collaboration with Réseau Ivoirien Pour la Promotion de l'Éducation Pour Tous Rip-Ept , organized two successful on-site Parents Awareness Workshops in Agboville, Côte d'Ivoire.

Over the course of two intensive weeks, 10 social workers (both deaf and hearing) were trained to support parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Topics such as sign language, language development, positive parenting, deaf culture, and inclusion were central to the trainings.

During the second week, the social workers went out into the community. In the village of Lapo, they reached about 100 residents. Conversations helped dispel misconceptions about deafness and raise awareness: deaf children can learn and develop to their full potential, provided they receive the right support.

🌟 The training sessions are now complete and the impact is just beginning. The trained social workers can inform and empower parents, which contributes to better access to education for deaf children.

28/05/2026

📚 𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁!

Over the past year, we continued to work closely with local partners to improve quality education for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. With 5 international projects executed across 6 countries, we have trained 137 teacher trainers and educational professionals. Together, they have impacted the learning environment of about 3500 children.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
✅ 𝗖ô𝘁𝗲 𝗱’𝗜𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 through a train‑the‑trainer program to improve early literacy (RMEL) and the "Strong Start for Children Who Are Deaf" project continuing this year, empowering social workers to guide parents in creating supportive, language‑rich home environments.
✅ 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 through a blended RMEL train‑the‑trainer program, a dedicated e‑learning environment for Tanzanian teachers, and the start of a Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) program adapted into Swahili.
✅ 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮, 𝗥𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 & 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗶: 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 through applied research on sign‑language‑rich environments, parental engagement, and school readiness, including training local research teams in the Sign Language Assessment Tool.
✅ 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮, 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗻 & 𝗖ô𝘁𝗲 𝗱’𝗜𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 with a regional VIG training week in Zambia, supporting teachers to better understand and respond to the communication needs of deaf learners.

💚 We are grateful to all partners, supporters and donors who made this work possible. Together, we continue expanding access to quality education for children with hearing loss across Africa.

👉 Click below to access the Annual Report.
https://www.kentalis.com/sites/default/files/2026-05/annual-report-2025-kentalis-international-foundation.pdf

11/05/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗮: 𝟴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 🎓

We’ve just wrapped up a successful training week in Arusha, Tanzania, where 8 participants are now fully equipped as video coaches.

Together with the Organisation of Special Needs Education Teachers - OSNET, we delivered training in Video Interaction Guidance: an evidence-based approach to coach teachers that helps them reflect on and strenghten their classroom practice. 🤝

The training blended theory with hands-on experience, including filming and reviewing actual classroom interactions. A big thank you to Ilboru Primary School and Meru Primary School for welcoming us and making it possible to train in real classroom environments.

Our focus throughout the week was the Reading Method for Early Literacy: the coaches specifically learn to support teachers in refining and strenghtening how they use this method for their deaf learners.

We look back on an impactful week and are excited to see how these newly trained video coaches will apply their skills in classrooms – supporting teachers and working on continuous growth in deaf education. 🌱

06/05/2026

👩‍🏫 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺

Our Video Interaction Guidance training is in full swing! The 8 participants, who train to become video coaches, put their skills into practice at Ilboru Primary School in Arusha.

They filmed teachers during their lessons, selected relevant clips to review together with the teacher, and provided constructive feedback to foster real growth in the classroom.

We're incredibly excited about the progress and dedication we're seeing, in both the video coaches and participating teachers.

In the days ahead, participants will deepen their learning through both theory and practice. By the end of the week, they will be ready to serve as skilled video coaches, supporting teachers in strengthening classroom practice through video-based coaching.

04/05/2026

🎥 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Today, in collaboration with the Organisation of Special Needs Education Teachers - OSNET, we launched an exciting training week in Arusha. We're working with 8 dedicated teacher coaches, equipping them with skills in Video Interaction Guidance.

Video Interaction Guidance is a powerful coaching method that uses video to support teachers in strengthening their classroom practice.

📚 This week has a special focus: improving interactions between teachers and their deaf and hard-of-hearing learners, and strengthening their use of the Reading Method for Early Literacy (RMEL). RMEL supports young deaf learners in developing essential reading skills – a method in which all participants have been trained before.

The coming days will combine theory and hands-on experience. We'll be recording real classroom moments and practicing coaching sessions. This gives participants the chance to learn by doing – alongside the teachers they coach.

Interested to learn more about Video Interaction Guidance in practice? Stay tuned for more updates!

30/04/2026

🌍 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀

📚 The international team of Kentalis trainers Ingeborg Snel (The Netherlands) and Rachel Chomba (Zambia) delivered the first Parent Awareness Training in Ivory Coast, carried out in close collaboration with Réseau Ivoirien Pour la Promotion de l'Éducation Pour Tous Rip-Ept. The training was warmly received by participants and attended by delegates from the Ministry of Education, local government, and various organizations.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Together, we equipped social workers with tools to help parents provide better support to their deaf or hard of hearing children, strengthening communication at home and helping children take an active role in their families and society.