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Serve where you’re needed mostDeaf Education Specialist
Education
Job highlights
- Learn Kenyan Sign Language from dedicated Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitators.
- Gain international education experience supporting marginally disadvantaged students.
- Be the first Response Volunteer to support Kenya’s Education for the Deaf (E4D) program.
Applications are now closed. View current openings.
Apply by
January 15, 2026Know by
April 1, 2026Depart on
August 10, 2026Duration
12 monthsAbout the project
Occupational therapists, special education teachers, and speech therapists, your skills are needed to close the gap for Deaf students in Kenya.
The government of Kenya wishes to expand its Education for the Deaf (E4D) project into secondary schools for the Deaf, where students perform below average in math and science. This low performance is directly attributed to the teachers’ lack of Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) vocabulary for teaching math and science subjects, inadequate knowledge on strategies to teach abstract concepts, and resources that are not adapted for Deaf learners. The assessment methods used are meant for hearing learners, with little to no accommodation. Deaf learners also lack experiential learning opportunities.
As a Deaf Education Specialist, you will develop signs that can be used for math and science instruction. Along with local teachers, you will incorporate technology, art, and illustrations to help explain abstract scientific concepts.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Kenya project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Bachelor of Arts in Education or related field and at least 3 years of Special Education experience, or Master of Arts in Special Education or related field
OR
2 or more years of teaching experience
OR
2 or more years specialized experience in one of the following areas: ASL, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or working with the visually-impaired
Language: There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Kenya
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Strengthen science, technology, engineering, and math instruction skills, critical thinking, and use of research-based teaching practices in the classroom.
Develop and document technical signs to facilitate science and math learning for the Deaf.
Foster hands-on experiences for Deaf students to apply math and science lessons.
Participate in curriculum content delivery and model adapted teaching strategies for Deaf learning.
Organize and support the participation of Deaf students in math and science fairs.
Inspire parental involvement through special events where parents can learn KSL.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as extracurricular activities and creative arts.
Volunteers will be placed in rural communities in Western Kenya. Housing is provided by the work partner and can be a private structure in a family compound, staff housing at the school, or a stand-alone house in the community.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Kenya country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Kenya
Hannah W.
Secondary STEM Educator
"I've been blessed with several 'mamas' who have shown me immense care and affection. They've also taught me the importance of a slower pace of life. The philosophy of 'pole pole'—taking things slowly and steadily—has impacted how I approach life here."
See full Volunteer profile
After a 2-week orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to a rural community where you will collaborate with staff at a secondary school for the Deaf. You will work with the partner and your community to assess the local needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals. Peace Corps/Kenya will equip you with Kenyan Sign Language resources and you may work with a local tutor who can help you build basic language skills to connect with the community.
Heterosexual and same-sex couples are accepted for this program. Each person must apply separately and must qualify for a position in either the same or a different sector than their partner. Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities. Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart).
To learn more about serving as a couple in Kenya, visit the country page.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Kenya. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
