Reisinger Scholarship Fund

The Reisinger Scholarship Fund will also allow Deaf children to obtain a scholarship to obtain higher level education. Higher education is crucial for individual growth and community development, fostering critical thinking, career opportunities, and civic engagement. For Kenya's Deaf community, where less than 80 individuals hold college degrees, access to higher education is particularly vital for overcoming discrimination, poverty, and marginalization. The Reisinger Scholarship Fund directly addresses these disparities by providing financial aid, enabling Deaf individuals to gain the skills needed for sustainable livelihoods, become powerful advocates for their rights, bridge communication gaps, and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society, ultimately transforming the future of the Deaf community in Kenya.

This scholarship fund will also allow students with various disabilities who cannot attend the B.L. Tezza School for the Deaf to seek appropriate education. Many children in Kenya have disabilities that need to be supported at schools that are specific to their needs. These may include cognitive, intellectual, or physical disabilities. We at Hearts that Hear believe EVERY child should have the right to an education because disability is not inability. Students who receive funding from this scholarship will be able to attend schools that focus on technical training to obtain skills that allow them to further their ability to create self-sustaining lives to lift them out of poverty. In Kenya, many children with disabilities start school much later than their peers or are hidden away in their homes. We want these children in school, learning, and breaking the stigma of cultural beliefs.