As of January next year, Sign Language education will be offered at the University of Namibia (UNAM). “Yes, this important milestone has now been confirmed by the University Senate,” says Davíð Bjarnason, Project Manager for social projects at ICEIDA´s Country Office in Namibia. One of the main objectives of ICEIDA´s support to Deaf education is the development and recognition of the Namibian Sign Language. Sign Language education at the University is therefore an acknowledgement of the importance of Sign Language in the education of deaf children in Namibian society, says Davíð.

ICEIDA has, for the last two years, supported Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Namibia. In this support the agency has emphasised the training of educarers for kindergartens. “Initially, the plan was to provide more extensive support to ECD, but following the economic collapse in Iceland, it became clear that only very limited funding would be available” says Davíð Bjarnason, Project Manager for Social Projects in Namibia.

In june, country directors were replaced in two of ICEIDA´s partner countries, Mozambique and Uganda. Ágústa Gísladóttir took over as country director in Mozambique and Gísli Pálsson in Uganda.