Woodford Foundation

VTCD workshop ready for work

karen — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:10:39 +0000

Building at the new workshop for students at the Vocational Training Centre for the Deaf in Ghona, Tanzania, is now finished, with only water harvesting and solar panels to go on now. Great news for the students – they are looking forward to having more shelter from the hot sun and heavy rain, and better facilities to learn in.

Deaf Awareness Week – Shrewsbury stall

karen — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:24:58 +0000

We will be marking Deaf Awareness Week with a stall in Shrewsbury Square on Thursday, 9 May 10 am – 3 pm. Come along to meet us, to find out more, and to help us to raise funds by buying jewellery or china – such as this wonderful Gaudy Welsh china.

“Wonderful training”

karen — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:26:35 +0000

“This has been wonderful training for us. I have learnt how I can take care of a deaf child, how I can communicate with deaf children properly, and that deaf children need to be encouraged to go to school for learning.” Just one of the positive reports we have had from parents who have been on training in Malawi – transforming the lives of deaf children and their families.

Toys for Malawi

karen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:22:52 +0000

The special needs resource centre in Malawi, Mzuzu, will soon be getting new furniture and toys to stimulate the children’s enjoyment and learning, thanks to the generosity of The Toy Trust and donations in memory of David Bond. Thank you.

Tanzania new workshop progress

karen — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:07:23 +0000

Work is getting going again at the new workshop for students at the Vocational Centre for the Deaf, Ghona, Tanzania, following a delay caused by a shortage of timber. When complete the new workshop will have solar panels and water harvesting tanks, with capacity for more students to learn work skills. Some lessons currently take place out of doors in all weathers!

Comic Relief – two year extension

karen — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:28:02 +0000

Three of the children who have been learning at Mzuzu

Great news for Malawi. Thanks to Comic Relief we are going to be able to continue our valuable work in northern Malawi for another two years. This is a project to develop and extend the work we have already done to discover “hidden” deaf children and make sure that communities, families and teachers cherish and nurture them. Most importantly we are giving deaf children themselves the confidence and opportunity to tell us what they need – they are the experts in telling us what the barriers are to inclusion and opportunity. Thank you to Comic Relief and to everyone who supports them.

Brother love – learning sign language

karen — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:11:17 +0000

This little Ugandan boy is practicing sign language - so he can communicate with his deaf brother and deaf sister. For the first time his family are able to do all the things we take for granted, laugh together, play together, and even argue!

New shoes for Boniface

karen — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:31:47 +0000

Boniface has just graduated from the pre-school for the deaf to the primary school in Kampala, Uganda. He won these shoes for being the best time-keeper in his class. His mother had moved the whole family so that Boniface could get to school – and now she and his brother are learning sign language. We wish Boniface, and all the other children in his group all the luck in the world at their new school.

Now Molly is “free and happy”

karen — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:38:47 +0000

We are hearing great news from our successful Comic Relief project in Malawi. The mother of Molly did not believe her daughter had any chance of achieving anything and had kept her hidden away. After family training her mother understood her potential and it resulted in Molly enjoying being in school and for the first time speaking and playing with peers who were becoming her friends. Her mother was working with her every day on speech and signs. She talked of, “tremendous change – she was tied up in herself before, but now she is free and happy.” To read more abuot this project go to our page on Malawi.

David Bond

karen — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:35:28 +0000

We were sorry to hear of the death of Woodford founder member, David Bond. On our news page you can read our tribute to him from our Chairman, Rod Clark.