Link for Health

The Friends of the Deaf, officially known as the Friends of People with Auditory Deficiencies, a non-profit 501(c) (3) tax exempt organization, founded in 2009, is dedicated to improving the lives of people with auditory deficiencies through their support of Las Voces del Silencio (LAVOSI).

LAVOSI is an educational project for the deaf in Guatemala; “where the voiceless have a voice and a choice!” Las Voces del Silencio (LAVOSI) is a new project in Guatemala dedicated to educating and training the deaf and their families.  Their school is conveniently located in Antigua which has good access for the many deaf men, women and children in the surrounding area.  They opened their doors for classes on January 25^th and have enjoyed a steady growth of students as the word spreads through the community about this new school for the deaf. 

• In Guatemala there are an estimated 100,000 to 500,000 men, women and children (out of a total population of about 14 million) with hearing deficiencies.
• The Guatemalan government does not have the resources to help fund organizations such as Las Voces del Silencio
• The public education system of Guatemala makes no provisions to address the needs of this group.
• The few private schools in the country cannot address the needs of a population this large. 

LAVOSI has an outstanding staff of teachers all of whom communicate easily with the students using the Guatemalan Sign Language.  From the moment their students enter their doors they find a beautiful, spacious facility and are greeted with the smiles and hugs that give them a sense of belonging that they don’t find in many other places. At LAVOSI the deaf and their families find a loving, caring and professional educational environment.  Their services are free and open to all regardless of financial status, religious affiliation or social status.  The sad fact is that the deaf are left out of society here.  They are discriminated against and exploited.  They find it almost impossible to find work, and when they do, they receive far less wages.  The public schools make no provisions for deaf students. A typical class size in the public school system is 30 to 35 students, making it difficult for any student, much more so for a deaf child. They are left out and left behind! The few private schools for the deaf are mostly located in Guatemala City, which is too far away and too costly for the majority of people that need their services. 

At LAVOSI they offer elementary classes (language, social studies, mathematics, sign language, etc.) to the deaf children Monday through Friday.  They also offer vocational training in the basic and fine arts, Guatemalan crafts, manual arts, general homemaking, baking, culinary arts and basic and advanced computer training.  Parents are encouraged to attend the Parent Information and Training classes on Saturdays. They are taught the Guatemalan Sign Language so that they can communicate more effectively. They are also taught that having a deaf child is a blessing and not something to grieve or something of which to be ashamed.

LAVOSI receives NO funding from the Guatemalan government, therefore only a few dollars a day can make a big difference in the services that they can provide. Learn more about opportunities to support LAVOSI.

You can learn more about the organization by visiting their website.