At Matumbulu Deaf Vocational Training Centre near Dodoma, 23 young students are gaining skills in welding, carpentry, sewing, gardening—and Tanzanian Sign Language (TSL). For many, this is their first exposure to formal education and structured sign language. Some arrive with only home signs or gestures. Others have never had the chance to communicate clearly at all.

Now, thanks to your support, the centre has received a laptop, a 65-inch TV screen, and Wi-Fi, with funds to cover data bundles. These tools are already transforming how students access Tanzanian Sign Language learning materials.

Instead of relying on hand-drawn flashcards—easily damaged and often unclear—students can now see high-quality videos and visual aids. These help bridge the gap between informal signs and the official TSL vocabulary. As one teacher explained, “Deaf people tend see the picture and use their local sign; the TSL teacher then has to teach them the official sign for that item.” The new equipment makes that process faster, clearer, and more effective.

And after a long day in the workshops, the screen also offers a rare opportunity for leisure—an accessible window into stories, news, and the wider world.

Matumbulu remains one of the few training centres in the country offering vocational and language training specifically for deaf students.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this small but significant improvement possible.