The Global Education Campaign (GEC) for children with deafblindness is very much alive and steadily making an impact. While many may already be familiar with the campaign’s objectives and the inspiring Asia-focused projects, there is so much more happening behind the scenes regionally and globally.
The GEC is not just a project; it is a global movement, driven by Deafblind International (DbI), in partnership with the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) and the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB).
Why We Need This Campaign
Every child deserves access to education. Yet, children with deafblindness — those with significant limitations in both sight and hearing, often combined with other disabilities — remain among the most excluded from education worldwide. The 2018 Global Report on Deafblindness revealed that children with deafblindness are up to 23 times less likely to be in school than children without disabilities.
The GEC is guided by key international agreements, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What are the essential targets of this global Deafblind Education Campaign?
Addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this campaign wants to boost access to quality education for all children with deafblindness and related needs, regardless of their gender, by strengthening relevant partnerships at the global, regional and national levels.
The campaign wants to achieve:
- Increased participation in quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education
- increased participation in free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
This Campaign addresses three key Sustainable Development Goals:
- Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
- Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
- Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
The campaign focuses on those regions in the world with the lowest participation rates.
It aims to identify and bundle relevant existing forces in the target regions strengthening or creating regional networks of competence in deafblindness.
What’s Happening in the Campaign — Beyond the Headlines
One of the most exciting developments is the global research initiative, aimed at generating knowledge and practical solutions for improving education for children with deafblindness.
The campaign has been carefully structured over four years, with each year focusing on distinct but interconnected goals:
- 2023-2024: Creating awareness about deafblindness as a unique disability, connecting stakeholders, and building regional competence networks.
- 2024-2025: Joint situation analysis within regions, defining shared goals, and supporting projects that enhance participation in quality education.
- 2025-2026: Capacity building, knowledge sharing, advocacy, and supporting education solutions through regional networks.
- 2026-2027: Evaluating progress, planning next steps, and ensuring sustainable support mechanisms.
Looking Ahead — New Opportunities
One of the major highlights on the horizon is the joint conference of the Deafblind Africa Network and ICEVI Africa, scheduled for July 2026. This gathering will not only celebrate the progress made but also shape the future of inclusive education for children with deafblindness across Africa. Alongside this, preparations are underway for the next World Conference, where the GEC will have a prominent role on the agenda. But to make these ambitions a reality, we need your support. The GEC remains dependent on financial contributions, partnerships, and collective action. Every donation, collaboration, and volunteer effort counts in making sure no child with deafblindness is left behind.