
OUR STORY
AL-Waagah started its humble beginnings back in 1995 focusing on the Islamic teachings of the Deaf within the greater cape metropole. Originally known as the Oasis for the Deaf. For the past 27 years AL-Waagah has achieved numerous milestones – from its humble beginnings at St Athans Mosque, to operating from a house to its greatest achievement to date, our new home. AL-Waagah has played a pivotal role to fill the gaps that are left in the development and support needed to help Deaf individuals overcome barriers to achieving their full potential. While there are approximately 43 schools across the country for Deaf and hard of hearing learners, few have the capacity to provide comprehensive support especially in impoverished neighbourhoods.
The AL-Waagah Institute for the Deaf is therefore a home and a family for those who have fallen through the gaps of policy implementation for Deaf people. Irrespective of religion, the Institute welcomes people from all backgrounds and nationalities to benefit from a variety of support services offered. Initially focused on religious education, we found that beneficiaries benefitted from the opportunity to interact with each other in sign language, which is not understood by many people within their home environments. Apart from their need for more meaningful social interaction,
AL Waagah also assists with legal services, applying for social grants, support for individuals from other African countries, and poverty alleviation interventions.
Being an education institute, essentially, AL-Waagah has nurtured the idea of establishing a school that would cater not only for the education needs of Deaf learners but also for their social and personal wellbeing. The idea of an all-inclusive school is that the Deaf are no longer marginalized or only confined to special schools. An all-inclusive school would admit both hearing and Deaf learners, with the aim of empowering more people to communicate in sign language and to mainstreaming the Deaf community. In this regard, the school is a “game-changer” in reimagining basic education systems and the future of holistic, inclusive learning.
Our Vision
Every Deaf person is to be empowered, has the opportunity to integrate into society and achieve their fullest potential and participate in and contribute to all aspects of life.
Our Mission
AL-Waagah works to advocate on behalf of the Deaf to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening the integration of communities thereby eliminating barriers to opportunity, and supporting the Deaf to reach their full potential and purpose in life.
Our Aim
AL-Waagah has nurtured the idea of establishing a school that would cater not only for the education needs of Deaf learners but also for their social and personal wellbeing. The idea of an all-inclusive school is that the Deaf are no longer marginalized or only confined to special schools. An all-inclusive school would admit both hearing and Deaf learners, with the aim of empowering more people to communicate in sign language and to mainstreaming the Deaf community. In this regard, the school is a “game-changer” in reimagining basic education systems and the future of holistic, inclusive learning.
Who benefits from our services?
Current schools do not teach every subject in Sign Language. They mostly insist that the Deaf learn to speak spoken English. The Deaf within South Africa therefore has and still suffer a major injustice due to not being able to study in their chosen language, Sign Language. This is from primary school right through to tertiary institutions. They are not only marginalized within society but more importantly within education. There are no schools in existence that teaches every subject in Sign language. We plan to teach every subject in Sign Language and spoken English, in this way we will not only ensure the Deaf is able to complete their education up to Matric level, we will also be training a generation of hearing students who will be proficient in Sign Language giving them an advantage in the workplace as Interpreters.
