CSR Case Studies: Paladin Energy Providing infrastructure for the Karonga School for the Deaf, Malawi

THE CHALLENGE

Karonga School for the deaf is located in Karonga town, Northern Malawi, and is the only school within the area that offers education for hearing impaired children. There are 58 pupils, including 34 boys and 24 girls between the ages of 6 and 17 years.

There are six education levels, with 10 children at each level. Ideally, there should be 14 levels, but due to lack of classroom space and teachers this has not been possible. The school currently has six teachers and four support staff and there are only two staff houses.

Currently, there are four classrooms that can only accommodate 40 children. The remainder of the children attend their class in a dormitory. There are an additional 44 children who cannot attend the school at all due to lack of classroom space.

As part of this project an extra classroom block and teacher’s house is planned, which will benefit children who would otherwise be disadvantaged due to their disability.

Hearing impaired learners with their teachers

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The aim of this project was to ensure a supportive learning environment for the hearing-impaired children at the Karonga School for the deaf through the provision of adequate infrastructure.

This was achieved through:

• Building and furnishing a classroom block of three classrooms that will accommodate 30 children at the Karonga School for the Deaf; and
• Building a house for a teacher at the Karonga School for the Deaf.

This project started in December 2012 and is due to be completed in May 2013.

BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT

The new Karonga School for the deaf has improved the quality of education and access for 78 hearing impaired children, their families and the teachers.

The broader Malawi community has also benefited, as an educated population is more productive.

Work begins on the classroom block

ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS

The organisations listed below worked in partnership to plan and implement this project:

FEPAC and Paladin Energy
FEPAC, (Friends and Employees of Paladin for African Children) the implementing partner, constructed a classroom block, dormitory, a kitchen/dining hall and a teacher’s house. FEPAC is directly involved in fundraising, mobilising materials, supervising and monitoring the construction. The organisation has provided funds to support the school’s day-to-day including buying food, boarding items and the provision of hearing aids. Paladin Energy supports the involvement of its employees in FEPAC by donating A25c for every $A1 raised and providing administrative support.

Together, FEPAC and Paladin Energy have contributed $A98,742 to the project, accounting for approximately 73% of the total cost.

The District Education Office
The District Education Office has provided water to the school, which to date has cost approximately $A639 (0.5% of the total project cost).

Parents and Local Community
The parents and local community provided sand and quarry stone for construction of the classroom and teachers house. Total cost for the construction was $A5792 (4.3% of the total project cost)

Australian Government
AusAid’s Direct Aid Programme provided $A30,000 for construction of the teacher’s house, classroom block and the provision of classroom furniture (22.2% of the total project cost).

The total budget for the project was $A135,173.

Hearing impaired learners with their teachers

OUTCOMES TO DATE

As a result of the construction of a teacher’s house, the government has posted one more teacher to the school. This will further improve access to education for the hearing-impaired children.

Enrolments at the Karonga School for the deaf have increased from 50 to 58 children. Over all, the teachers have improved facilities to educate the hearing-impaired children and have better boarding facilities.

CONCLUSION

As demonstrated by this project, the beneficiaries and key partners need to be involved at every stage of project implementation. This promotes ownership and ensures the long-term sustainability of a project that will benefit the broader community.

For further information regarding this project please contact Paladin Energy