Christian Mission for the Deaf (CMD) is a non-profit Christian organization whose goal is the bring communication, literacy, and spirituality to deaf Africans.
History
The organization, originally known as Christian Mission for Deaf Africans, was founded in 1956 by
Andrew Foster. Prior to Andrew Foster's arrival in Africa there were almost no schools for the deaf, save a few in
South Africa and
Egypt.
CMD was "incorporated as a Michigan non-profit organization in 1956" and received tax-exempt status in 1958.
Within 30 years Andrew Foster's mission had opened a total of 31 schools and ministries for the deaf across Africa in:
Ghana,
Nigeria,
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
,
Togo,
Chad
Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
,
Senegal,
Benin,
Cameroon,
Central African Republic, Zaire (now the
Democratic Republic of Congo),
Burkina Faso,
Burundi
Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili language, Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French language, French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the ...
,
Gabon,
Kenya,
Sierra Leone,
Congo
Congo or The Congo may refer to either of two countries that border the Congo River in central Africa:
* Democratic Republic of the Congo, the larger country to the southeast, capital Kinshasa, formerly known as Zaire, sometimes referred to a ...
and
Guinea
Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: République de Guinée), is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the we ...
. The organization aimed to open schools and ministries for the deaf and then to turn them over to others, either the national government or evangelical churches. Some have closed due to civil war and tribal unrest.
For much of the founder's life, he spent six months in Africa establishing deaf schools and six months of each year in the United States raising funding for their support.
Following the death of the founder in 1987, the organization was led for several years by his wife, Berta, who had served alongside him for years. Following her death and to the present, their son Timothy Foster has served as director.
Work
The organization currently supports six deaf schools in Nigeria, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and two ministry centers in Nigeria and Chad.
The deaf schools established by CMD make use of all communication methods, i.e. "natural gestures, formal sign language, finger-spelling, writing, reading, speech, lip-reading and hearing aids". So as to make every effort to build a foundation for literacy and access to the Bible. These schools introduced American Sign Language (ASL), combining it with the indigenous Adamorobe Sign Language and spoken French, resulting in the 'Langue des Signes Franco-Africaine', variations of which are now used in many deaf schools in Africa.
CMD also provides some basic job training.
References
External links
http://www.cmdeaf.org/ (Website of Christian Mission for the Deaf)
Christian missions in Africa
Christian organizations established in 1956
Deaf education
Education in Africa
1956 establishments in Michigan
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