In the mountain town of Pokhara, the Gandaki Association for the Deaf (GAD), supported by Deafway UK, has really changed the lives of deaf people.

The Saga Charitable Trust has funded a programme to teach Nepali sign language to the parents and family members of deaf children. The four-month course, which takes place in various locations and homes around the city has been a resounding success. This innovative programme has not only found a way for parents, children, and siblings to communicate with each other; but has also played a real part in reuniting the community.

A key facility is the Shreejana school which provides much needed education for deaf children, not only from Pokhara, but from all over Nepal and an adjacent hostel provides accommodation. The school is expanding rapidly and the Trust has helped to fund additional facilities as well as furniture for an extension to the hostel, which will enable more children to attend.