For deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Benin, this is the harsh reality. Without access to sign language and appropriate education, they miss out on opportunities for the future. With Allô Sourd: Breaking the Silence, we want to change that. People with disabilities make up a significant portion of Benin’s population. In Benin, approximately 10% of the population has a disability, of which 7.2% have a hearing impairment. Yet these people still face various forms of social exclusion on a large scale. Despite efforts toward social inclusion, deaf and hard-of-hearing people continue to face language barriers, stereotypes, and a lack of accessible facilities. Nearly 90% of deaf individuals do not attend school, and those who do have access encounter integration challenges due to a shortage of teachers trained in sign language. In cities such as Parakou, N’Dali, and Natitingou, poverty and inadequate educational infrastructure exacerbate these challenges. This limits opportunities for personal growth, vocational training, and economic independence, and reinforces social inequality.Through the Allô Sourd project, Prunelle de Dieu aims to break down these barriers; we want to:

1. Improve access to inclusive education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
2. Restore communication between deaf children, their families, and the community by providing access to social services through the training of interpreters.
3. Promote digital inclusion and employability among deaf youth.
4. Strengthen the economic autonomy of families.

Will you help us achieve this? Support the launch of the project or support a child.

Together, we’re working toward equal opportunities and a more inclusive future for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Benin.