DeSanto Centre for the Deaf
59 mose street
Livingstone
Zambia
Contact person: Ms. Lisa Zahra
+260 97 6109055
info@desantocentreforthedeaf.org
lisainzambia@gmail.com
https://desantocentreforthedeaf.org/
https://www.facebook.com/DEAAF/
Topics
- Social policy/disabled persons
- Educational policy/project
- Women's policy
- Volunteers are welcome.
About us
DeSanto Centre for the Deaf is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit and a registered NGO in Zambia empowering deaf children in Livingstone, Zambia through language, education and community.
Deaf Education and Arts for African Families (DEAAF) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 that operates the DeSanto Centre for the Deaf. DEAAF is committed to providing much needed schooling to deaf children within the African continent.
Our goal is to provide education, assist in poverty and hunger alleviation, and encourage the local community and government to become actively involved to ensure deaf children have an educational future that is often taken for granted in more well developed countries.
Our Mission
At DeSanto Centre for the Deaf, we believe education and communication are the foundation of equality.
Our Vision
A future where Deaf children in Southern Province Zambia are educated, empowered, and equipped to reach their full potential as equal participants in society.
Our work
• We provide deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Zambia with high-quality education, sign language instruction, and vocational skills that open the door to independence and inclusion. All teachers are fluent in both Zambian Sign Language (ZSL) and American Sign Language (ASL), and all academic instruction is delivered through sign language.
• Our holistic approach removes barriers to learning by providing transportation, nutritious meals, and safe spaces that allow every child to focus and thrive.
• We work closely with parents to strengthen communication at home and break down social barriers, while raising community awareness to challenge stigma and promote Deaf culture. Recognizing that communication does not stop at the classroom door, the Centre also offers sign language classes for parents and family members.
• Full academics: The DeSanto Centre for the Deaf provides a full academic program aligned with the national curriculum and advancement requirements established by the Zambian Ministry of Education.
• Through special programs for girls, we provide our female students with the health knowledge, confidence, and self-advocacy skills to pursue equality and build empowered futures.
• Essential life skills: Beyond academics, we focus on the essential life skills that prepare our students for independence and inclusion in their communities. From hygiene and self-care to problem-solving and empathy, every element of our program is designed to ensure that students have the tools they need to thrive beyond the classroom and lead fulfilling, self-sufficient lives. Students gain hands-on experience through gardening, meal preparation, organized sports, creative arts, and vocational training, building confidence and practical abilities that serve them throughout their lives.
• Field trips: Every term, DeSanto students explore the extraordinary world on their doorstep, from the thundering majesty of Victoria Falls and the wildlife of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Game Park to river cruises on the Zambezi and visits to the Livingstone Crocodile Farm. These experiences are about joy, curiosity, and discovery.
Lisa Zahra is the Founder & Director of the DeSanto Centre for the Deaf and Deaf Education and Arts for African Families (DEAAF).
For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.