What we do?
LVDC teaches disabled, in particular young people with hearing impairments, practical skills such as woodwork, dressmaking, metalwork and screenprinting thereby giving them the opportunity to be independent members of their community. LVDC works to create a society in which disabled youths are valued as equal citizens. Since being founded in 2002 the centre has grown to offer services to the wider community by producing mobility aids such as tricycles for the physically disabled, running a weekly sign language class and during the elections holding seminars to educate people with disabilities about their rights.

Why we do it?
According to the World Health Organisation, 10% of the population of Tanzania are disabled. This is due to a number of factors such as poor health conditions, a lack of treatment for polio, malaria and meningitis, mishandling at birth, traditional practices and gender inequality. There are very few medical and rehabilitation services in place for people with disabilities – in the Mara region with a population of over a million, there is only 1 physiotherapist, 85% of the disabled population in Mara are unable to access education beyond primary school, 50% of whom have not attended school at all. The centre not only teaches essential life skills such as sign language and vocational skills but also works to change perceptions of disability.

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LVDC’s NEW WEBSITE (ALMOST)

Posted by on Jan 24, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

We hope you like the new look of the site. It’s 95% finished but we’ve put it up anyway just to let you have a look. We’ll be working on the other 5% over the coming weeks and getting the site perfect, so apologies for any design errors, broken links and typos in that time.

LVDC’s new partners!

Posted by on Dec 19, 2011 in Future Plans, Uncategorized | 0 comments

2011 has been a great year for LVDC and we are all very excited about 2012! With the recent news of securing funding from the organsiation, Africa Action Dutchland (AAD) and the generous donations and long-term support from Dr Manny Vasant, members of the AOG and all our overseas supporters, we are pleased to announce that we will start building a new centre in 2012. The centre will have 2 new workshops and an administration block allowing us to increase our student intake and subsequently be able to help many more disabled youths. We are extremely grateful for all the support we have received and look forward to visits from our partners in 2012.

We look forward to seeing you soon. In the meantime, Merry Chrismas and happy New Year 2012!
ASANTE SANA for helping us make LVDC a bigger and better place for more students to come and learn!

http://www.aoguk.org/the-aog.html

http://www.africa-action.de/

LVDC go to the Serengeti

Posted by on Dec 2, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Everyone at LVDC we’re very lucky this week to be able to go and enjoy a trip to the Serengeti! All of the staff, students and volunteers squeezed into the mini bus on Monday to start the journey to the Serengeti gate. At the Ndabaka gate we stopped for a quick refreshment and a mischievous monkey tried to get on the bus to share our biscuits! As we entered into the Serengeti we were welcomed by Zebras, Antelopes, Giraffes and many more animals. The students were amazed to see the animals so close and to observe them rather than see them from a photograph. We ate our lunch, which had been prepared the day before, among the wildlife. As we entered deeper into the Serengeti we saw Hippopotamuses, Buffalo and even a Cheetah with her cubs going on a hunt! As dusk began to fall we headed to our accommodation, a student hostel, where we began to cook our evening meal. As we settled in to bed we where startled by the roar of a nearby Lioness and other nocturnal creatures.

The next morning we woke up before sunrise so that we could pack the mini bus and leave early to see the animals doing their morning grazing. The guide explained about the different animals which was translated by David (the woodwork teacher) into sign language! The students enjoyed learning about the Serengeti and its diverse wildlife. By late morning we reached the Hippo pool where we were able to leave the car and observe the Hippos close up and we even spotted a lazy crocodile on the lake shore! We then headed back out of the Serengeti to make our way home, we stopped on the way for a picnic under a big tree. When we arrived back at LVDC everyone was tired but where in good spirits after a fantastic two days in the Serengeti, something that we all will never forget!

We all here at LVDC would like to thank Geraldine Mckay and Lisneal College, she kindly fundraised the money for the trip. ASANTE SANA from all of us!