Philanthropy
Philanthropy
For a child who cannot hear, the challenge can extend far beyond hearing itself. It can affect how a child communicates, learns, participates in school and connects with the people around them. When support comes late, these challenges can shape a child’s opportunities well into adulthood.
But early identification, the right support and an involved family can change that journey.
This is the work of VAANI Deaf Children’s Foundation (https://vaani.in/), a non-profit organisation working across India to help children with hearing impairment communicate, learn and build more independent futures.
Founded in 2005 by Brinda Crishna, VAANI was the first national NGO in India to focus exclusively on issues surrounding childhood deafness. Its approach brings together healthcare, early intervention, education, family support and skill-building, recognising that a child’s needs evolve as they grow.
One of the most important aspects of VAANI’s work is early identification.
Through its Newborn Hearing Screening Programme, the organisation works with hospitals and public health centres to identify hearing impairment soon after birth and help families understand the support available to them.
The impact is significant. VAANI’s programmes have screened more than 99,000 newborn babies and counselled more than 99,000 mothers.
For many families, this can be the first step towards understanding their child’s needs and accessing timely intervention. Early identification can give children a better opportunity to develop communication and language skills during their formative years.
The focus, therefore, is not simply on identifying hearing impairment, but on ensuring that identification becomes the beginning of a pathway to support.
VAANI’s work continues beyond early intervention. Its Educational Intervention Programme supports children through different stages, from the foundational years and elementary education to secondary and higher education.
Learning support is tailored to individual needs and can include visual communication, sign language, speech reading, storytelling, role play and other approaches that help children engage more effectively with their education.
VAANI has reached more than 22,000 children with hearing impairment and 44,000 parents through its programmes.
The involvement of parents is particularly important. A child spends most of their life outside a classroom, and the ability of families to communicate effectively can have a lasting impact on confidence, learning and emotional development.
VAANI therefore works with parents as active participants in their child’s journey, helping them understand hearing impairment and develop effective ways of supporting communication and learning at home.
As children grow older, the question changes from How do we help this child learn? to How do we help this young person build an independent future?
VAANI’s Youth Transition and Skill-Building Programme addresses this next stage through vocational and life skills, including digital literacy, while helping young people prepare for higher education, employment and greater independence.
This life-cycle approach is one of the distinctive aspects of VAANI’s work. The objective is not simply to support a child at one point in their journey, but to create a continuum of opportunity as they grow.
VAANI also recognises that meaningful inclusion requires change in the wider community.
Its programmes engage parents, teachers and community professionals, helping them better understand the needs of children with hearing impairment and create more supportive environments.
Its work has reached more than 40,000 members of the general public and 12,000 community professionals, extending awareness beyond the children and families it directly supports.
VAANI’s work offers an important perspective on meaningful philanthropy.
For a child with hearing impairment, early screening can lead to intervention. Intervention can open the door to communication. Communication can make education more accessible, and education can create opportunities for higher learning, employment and independence.
Each step may seem small. Together, they can change the course of a life.
VAANI’s journey reminds us that inclusive philanthropy is not simply about providing assistance. It is about removing barriers and creating the conditions in which every child can participate, learn, communicate and realise their potential.
Entrust Family Office would be happy to connect you with the VAANI Deaf Children’s Foundation team and support you in your philanthropic endeavours.
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