Several Peace Corps Response Volunteers are needed to serve as Deaf Education Specialists as part of the re-opening of the Peace Corps program in Kenya. In western Kenya, secondary school enrollment and completion remains low, and special education schools lack necessary student to teacher ratios. Recent translation of the primary education syllabus into Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) and the declaration of KSL as an examinable subject requires a specific teacher to student ratio to be achieved, and compels schools to enhance teacher skills to teach and prepare the deaf child for the national examinations. Additionally, there is a lack of educational materials that exist for training or as reference materials targeting the deaf, and especially on health issues particularly HIV/AIDS, where most persons working in these areas are not specifically trained to serve the deaf.

The Deaf Education Specialists, with Bachelor’s degrees in deaf education or a related field and at least two years of experience in primary or secondary school teaching will work in primary schools and units for the deaf, working with teachers to improve their teaching capacity, develop effective teaching materials and overall strengthening of educational services to deaf students. PCRVs will also act as a vital partner in the USG DREAMS initiative to keep girls in schools by creating linkages to youth friendly services, stronger social protection systems and better family and community support. Peace Corps is preparing to reopen the country program with 27- month Volunteers when conditions allow, but will initially resume operations with a small group of skilled and experienced education professionals. As part of the initial cohort participating in Peace Corps’ re-entry, the PCRVs can expect to help further develop relationships with the partner organizations, refine the needs assessment, and prepare the way for the 2-year Peace Corps Volunteers to follow.

Please note that departure dates and other details of this project could change because of the uncertainties as Peace Corps and local partners resume volunteer operations. Candidates selected for this position will be arriving in Kenya together as a group, so while the departure dates for the whole group could change, dates cannot be changed for individual candidates.

Deaf Education Schools or mainstream schools with a Deaf Education component

• High tolerance for ambiguity and high level of flexibility – some details of this project could change because of the uncertainties as Peace Corps and local partners resume volunteer operations
• Bachelor’s Degree in Deaf Education or related field
• At least two years’ experience in Primary or Secondary school teaching
• Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) or a minimum of two years working overseas in an international development context
• Working knowledge of a sign language
• Openness and willingness to learn Kenyan Sign Language
• Flexibility and patience to adapt to changing circumstances and work without constant or close supervision
• Intercultural communication and relationship-building skills