The educational challenges faced by children with hearing loss are stated loud and clear in the World Health Organisation's recently launched World Report on Hearing, which emphasises the problems faced by children with hearing loss who do not receive hearing healthcare and support early: they often experience lower school performance, higher risk of dropping out of school, and less likelihood of accessing higher education

Malala Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at the age of 17, said: "My hope is that all girls can have equal opportunities and that we ensure a world where every girl can have access to free, safe and quality education. Hearing loss doesn't need to be an obstacle to education."

Awareness Campaign

Now, an awareness campaign team-up between Malala Fund and Cochlear Foundation (supported by the firm Cochlear) aims to boost not only awareness of the need for children to access education, but also the role played in achieving this essential advancement by the use of cochlear implants. Malala Yousafzai herself was given a cochlear implant in 2012 to save her hearing during emergency surgery after being shot in the head by a gunman when she was travelling on a school bus. She had a custom-made titanium plate fitted to her skull and a cochlear implant to help her recover hearing in her left ear.

Malala Fund and Cochlear Foundation are inviting children and young people with hearing loss to share their stories of personal achievement as part of the Achieve anything programme.

Cochlear CEO and President Dig Howitt said this partnership supported Cochlear's mission to help more people to hear and experience life's opportunities. "Two years ago, I hosted a group of children with hearing loss at a special event where Malala spoke. She is a role model whose incredible story of courage and determination inspired this group as it inspires people around the world. Malala speaking about her own experience will change lives by raising the confidence and self-esteem of a generation of girls and young people with hearing loss."

Visit www.cochlearfoundation.org to learn more about the partnership and how to submit stories to the Achieve anything programme.

Source: Cochlear Foundation