Please Help Our Work in Nepal
There has recently been a devastating earthquake in Nepal. In the aftermath it will be more important than ever that our life changing work with Deaf people there can continue.
Why we need your help so much
This recent earthquake had a magnitude of 7.9. Deaf people are among thehundreds of thousands who lives have been affected. Over 3326 people have died and this number is expected to rise. Although we are not a disaster relief charity, our work, and the stability of our projects is now even more important than ever.
Imagine being in trouble and not being able to tell anyone about your problems or explain what you had seen. Our projects enable Deaf people to learn language - nothing is more essential to life. In order to recover from this dreadful earthquake and the utter devastation it has caused Deaf people will need extra support to ensure they have the language and education and assistance from people fluent in Nepalese Sign Language to access relief efforts and to rebuild their lives.
Based in Preston, Lancashire, in the last 15 years we have worked with partners throughout Nepal to run life-transforming projects in over 60 Districts– we have reached out to Deaf people to end severe isolation by teaching Nepali Sign Language and introducing them to community. Through sign language we are then able to help them to access other services (such as those provided by disaster relief charities) and education.
When the earthquake hit our first priority was to find out if the people in our existing projects were OK. Thankfully, our project officers Dipa and Suneta and the 85 children at our school in Sindhuli are safe. Due to the threat of after-shocks, they are sleeping in the open. At the school the warden, housemother and Director are with the children. The Leader of our Older Deaf Person’s Project in the Kathmandu Valley told us: “We were lucky.” They were together on a planned picnic when it happened; however, he added “there is no news from the village areas due to a lack of communication. The power has been cut in our areas.” It is extremely likely that many of their homes will have been destroyed.
Now we need to make sure we can continue our work which is crucial to ensuring Deaf children and adults across Nepal have the language and awareness to access relief efforts when disaster strikes and the education to rebuild their lives. Please help us by donating to Deafway in any of the following ways:
- You can donate online at
- Text KTMV00 £3 (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) to 70070 to donate by text.
- Click the ‘Make a Donation’ button on our facebook page.
- Or visit our website at
- Or write a cheque to Deafway and post it to Help Nepal, Deafway, Brockholes Brow, Preston, PR2 5AL
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First Name ………………………………. Surname ……………………………….
Address …………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………….. Postcode ………………………………..
Contact no. …………………………….. Email ……………………………………
I include a donation of £ ………………. Date …………………………………….. made payable to ‘Deafway’ “Yes”, add Gift Aid □
* I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 that I gave up to 5 April 2008 and will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008.
Notes to editors
About Deafway
- Based in Preston for over 100 years, Deafway works in the UK and internationally. UK services include residential care services for Deaf people with a range of needs, sign language theatre projects and shows, Deaf heritage and cultural activities and training in British Sign Language for hearing individuals and organisations.
- Overseas activities and projects currently focus on Nepal with work including Deaf schools, sign language and older Deaf persons’ projects, as well as a support for a small Deaf school in Uganda
When to use ‘D/deaf’
- Uppercase ‘D’ Deaf refers to those whose first or preferred language is sign language and who may describe themselves as Culturally Deaf. Lowercase ‘d’ deaf refers to people who have difficulty hearing but do not use sign language as their first or preferred language and do not identify themselves as Culturally Deaf.
Further information
For further information, images and interviews please contact Christina Eley at Development Officer at Deafway on 01772 796461 or David Hynes, Chief Executive at Deafway on 01772 796461
A selection of images: