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Sometime ago I received a request from Emmanuel, the mentor for two of our Deaf Dreamers in Ghana: 15 February 2023 Dear Destiny, Jennifer and I wish to extend our warm greetings to you and her donors during this period of sharing the love (Valentine). Please Jennifer wishes to appeal through you to her donors to consider her buying a secondhand laptop computer that she will use to write her final project work. Please, the laptop cost GH¢3,000.00 The absence of the laptop exposes her to a high risk where she has to go to the internet cafe and return home late at night since she is Deaf. If she possesses the device, she will sit in the comfort of her home to do her work. This project work is a requirement that adds up to her final grade to make up her GPA. This will go a long way to classify her among the first or second-class honors. She is therefore appealing to you for this great opportunity. Though you made us aware that the organization is in financial difficulties, I still wish to plead on her behalf to be considered. She has already started the work but she is not finding it easy. Thank you sincerely for all the assistance. Best wishes Emmanuel I replied to Emmanuel with a proposal that The Deaf Dream sponsors one laptop computer to be used by Jennifer and passed onto future Deaf Dreamers. (We did this in Uganda and the tablet has benefited 3 Deaf Dreamers so far.) 25 March 2023 Hello Destiny, Thank you for the mail. Jennifer told me that her teaching practice with the students ended yesterday Friday the 24th of March 2023. According to her, she is now going to have time for research work (Project Work) therefore she is still in great need of a laptop computer. She has agreed to the proposal that the laptop will not be her personal computer and that she is only going to use it to do her project and leave it for other deaf dreamers in the future. This will be a great opportunity for Ghana Deaf Dreamers to acquire one machine to be used by one deaf dreamer to be passed on to another. The intervention now will favor Ghana because prices of things keep changing every day due to the instability of the US dollar against the Ghana Cedi. ... Thank you for your kind attention as you look into our humble request with much consideration. Best regards Emmanuel 8 May 2023 Hi Destiny, I am glad to inform you that I was able to get the computer for Jennifer. . I am very happy that we were able to clear this challenge as well. We are grateful to you and all the donors. Attached are the photographs Best Regards Emmanuel Thank you to those of you who have donated this year. I account for every dollar to use them in the most meaningful way possible for these amazing students. With gratitude, - Destiny

A quick update from Monica this week: Dear Sponsors, How are you? I'm grateful to God for you. I'm here and studying well, I did INTERNAL PROGRESSIVE EXAMS and passed. I'm now qualified for an internship program for this semester. Also, see my photos with my Mum and her Sister when i was still at home during last semester break Thank you.

Dear Destiny, Thank you so much for Sponsoring my education. I'm sending you photos of mine during school break. I used the short break for a few days to get money at the quarry. I was able to get some little money for upkeep in school. I will send you more photos here in school as soon as I get the opportunity. Thank you Alfred.

I received a video from Emmanuel, Jennifer's mentor, showing Jennifer teaching students in Ghana. Also, Jennifer sent this update and thank you video at the end of 2022. Enjoy! Transcript: Dear Destiny and all donors. I will like to take this opportunity to show my sincere gratitude to you. Thank you for paying my school fees for 3 years now. To God be the Glory, I am now in my final year. I will never forget the promise that I made to make you proud. I will also go back to teach other poor deaf students in the community. Thank you, Destiny and all donors for the honour done me. God richly bless you all. Jennifer Owusu Agyemang from Ghana

In July 2020, Bonny applied to The Deaf Dream for a scholarship. Two years prior, Bonny's father had been assassinated for his political affiliation. In 2021, The Deaf Dream awarded him a scholarship to go to a tech school. Bonny's dream is to become a shoe maker like his father and train future Deaf shoemakers in his country, Rwanda. Bonny will graduate in 2023.

Dear Donors, I will now admit to you that I have been very, very worried about Patricia. She has always been so quick to respond so when I did not hear from her since May of 2021, I was truly worried that she may have been yet another casualty of Covid-19 (as many in eastern Africa continue to be hit hard by the virus). I reached out to her school and even sent photos of her to my friends and a Deaf Dreamer traveling to Kenya, asking that they keep an eye out for her. My heart is SO grateful to share that I received an email from her! (March 2, 2023) My Dearest friend Destiny, How are you? I'm so excited to communicate with you. I received information from my former school through mum, that you tried communicating with me. I have been in our rural home in Nakuru. Mum has been in Bungoma. Message came from Uganda to our School that you so much want to communicate with me. I could not access my email. It was created using my former Late teacher's phone number (died from COVID-19). It was hard to convince her family to recover my email. thank God, the Principal convinced them. The school is preparing to host a Bilingual Program for Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. I and my colleagues have been struggling to open a local Primary school for the Deaf but it is currently stalled. we have not met the minimum requirements yet. structures and number of enrollment is our challenge now. we need at least 15 children. Name of School is Good Shepherd Community School for the Deaf. We now have 5 children ready to study. when we get 15, we shall be ready to begin school registration process for school to start operating. Please find the attached photos for my sponsors to see. please, send them my sincere greetings. Thank you I'm Patricia Thank you for your thoughts and prayers in Patricia's behalf. She is an amazing, vivacious, and dedicated Deaf Dreamer who will make SUCH a difference if this school succeeds! - Destiny

I am thrilled to announce our next Deaf college scholarship recipient! Lydia has received a Deaf Dream scholarship to study the fabric and sewing business! Her dream is to one day provide employment for other members of her Deaf community in the DRC and / or Rwanda. (She is currently living in the Mahama Refugee Camp in Rwanda.) Lydia's Initial Application Lydia's Second Application I sent Lydia multiple follow-up emails to learn more about her dream and plan to accomplish it. The following is one of her emails. It was originally in French (her most comfortable writing language), this is the English translation. Dear Destiny, Thank you very much for your email. I just came to check my email. You know, my dad had told me to wait until next year to join the school because he couldn't pay our fees (me and my siblings) in full. When he learned of my candidacy, he said that if my application is approved for a scholarship, he can cover my other expenses such as accommodation, meals, personal needs, transportation and COVID-19 PPE. 1. What is your specific goal to help your Deaf community and break barriers? (Explain your plan.) I want to be the champion of providing vocational skills to the Deaf. After completing my course, I will begin by sharing the skills I have learned through training my deaf peers in fashion and design. It is an easy to learn course. During my course, I want to advocate for deaf rights and education. This will encourage parents of deaf children to value deaf education. 2. How does getting an education help this goal? Getting an education will help because I will be an example for the education of the deaf. I strive to be a Deaf leader in school so I have access to the media and government offices. By completing my course, I will learn all the skills required to teach other deaf people. 3. How do you plan to pay for school on March 6th? My father is a former soldier, victim of the war. He is retired. He has just informed me that he will be able to provide accommodation, transportation, meals and personal needs once I am accepted for your scholarship. 4. If you are awarded a scholarship, we would send money for tuition, materials, and test fees for next semester. Will you and your family be able to afford the other fees / accommodations required at school? Yes, they will. My father just informed me. THANK YOU, Lydia Dear wonderful sponsors, Thank you for all of your support. For each of your donations and your emails of encouragement. It truly means so much to me that I do not have to worry about fundraising because of the donations you send. That way I can use my limited energy (due to my health) to focus on what matters most: our students' educations. Each of you are a blessing! With gratitude, - Destiny

Thank you to each of you who have donated and supported our Deaf Dreamers this year! We are so grateful for all you do. Please keep these students in your prayers with the new Ebola 2 outbreak in Uganda and other political and societal challenges. With gratitude, - Destiny

Hello all! Just quick updates from Alfred and Rachael in Tanzania.

Hello all, Several of you have been following Oryem's story closely over the years so this quick post is a short update on his progress. Oryem has completed his first semester of university and is awaiting his final grades! I sent his scholarship funding today so that he can start his second semester in the next month. He sent me a wonderful photo of himself in front of his school last week. You can find posts about Oryem's journey by clicking on "Oryem" under "Student Updates" in the menu but here are some highlights: #9 Scholarship Awarded to Oryem Update on COVID for Our Deaf Dreamers Oryem Starts School This Morning, Finally! Thank you to ALL who have reached out or are praying specifically in Oryem's behalf. With gratitude, Destiny P.S. My last post was about Oryem as well. He is leading on a Gender Equality Program put on by Jerry's organization, Deaf in Action. Here is Oryem standing with the team they outfitted with "Girl Up" t-shirts:

Soccer team wearing uniforms saying: Girl Up (Oryem is on the far right in the left photo) Jerry (Deaf Dreamer #3) and Oryem (#7) are growing their impact through Jerry's organization: Deaf in Action. Oryem has been leading out their Gender Equality Program in Uganda. Here is his update: Dear Destiny? Good morning to you? Nice to connect with you again, after a long time. I got my semester break a couple of days ago. I have been busy coordinating Deaf In Action's Gender Equality Program. Remember I emailed you about the USD 490 Grant? Yes!! Deaf In Action was awarded. Deaf In Action Donated;- -65 Reusable sanitary Pads and 2 Cartons of Disposable Sanitary Pads to 50 girls in and out of Schools to reduce absenteeism and promote Menstrual Health -11 Pairs of Football Jerseys and a Football to a primary School to promote Sports I have also been at my school on Friday to check on my Semester one grade results but found that he wasn't around. I will pick it up and send it to you as soon as I can. Thank you, and greetings to your entire family. Oryem Here are the videos Oryem sent with his email: Gender Equality Training Practical session-Making Reusable Sanitary Pads Gender Equality through Sports Oryem sent me an update on May 6th: Dear Destiny, You recently asked if I was working for Deaf In Action. Yes!! I'm working for the Non profit!! I joined in Dec 2020, during the strict COVID-19 lockdown, we lobbied for some food stuff and distributed to the target groups. I recently applied to " Girl Up" on behalf of the Non Profit for a Gender Equity grant, to promote Gender Equality program through sports and Menstrual Health Education. Any moment from now, we shall receive $490, to help purchase Prizes and call for football competitions among boys and girls in and out of schools. The winning teams and best players from all the participating teams shall receive prizes. The same funding shall also be used to buy some materials and train girls how to make reusable sanitary pads because we realized a number of girls miss school during their menstrual periods due to lack of money to purchase sanitary Pads Therefore, if they can learn how to make one, one can attend school throughout her periods. We are mostly encouraging Deaf Girls to join this special program because they are the most affected group!! We want to borrow your good examples of helping the Deaf Community. Find attached, part of the email I received from Girl Up June 29, 2022 Hi Everyone, I hope this email finds you well. I'm taking this short time to update you on the current events at Deaf In Action. 1-GIRL UP GENDER EQUALITY SMALL GRANT: We applied for USD 490 (Maximum is USD 500) Gender Equality award Grant in Feb this year and got awarded this month. The funding was wired directly to me and I delivered it to the Organization safely. 2-PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION: The Organization is currently implementing programs that promote Gender Equality which include but not limited to; a) Sensitization on Gender Equality and gender Equity. b) Promoting Gender through distribution of footballs to schools that lack them and encouraging their boys and girls to play together to break the barrier (In most parts of Uganda, people still believe that Football is only a game for Boys) c) Menstrual Health Education. The Organization is also conducting Menstrual Health Education to young girls and boys aged 13-24, although some specific topics involves girls only. d) Provision of disposable and reusable sanitary pads to girls from the poorest households. The funding is small compared to the demands but members are trying their best to ensure that the funding is economically utilized. Much of our work is on voluntary basis. For more information, please keep checking on the organization's Facebook page. Note: You won't be able to see both me and Jerry in the Pictures and videos at the moment because; I'm busy preparing for my exams and Jerry is also busy with assignments at his work place. I will be appearing in pictures and videos in late July when I'm through with my exams. I wish All the team implementing this program success in their daily activities. Thank you for supporting us Thank you. Oryem.

Click each page of the impact report to zoom or download the PDF below.