Children are the heartbeat of the project, and everyone involved takes their roles wholeheartedly
In March 2025 the Hearts Project was established as a reading club to address the early literacy gap experienced by Deaf children. It is a parent-academic partnership initiated by Kelebogile Boleu (parent of a Deaf child from the UFS Criminology Department), the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies, and the UFS Library and Information Services.
The Deaf experiences significant barriers in acquiring literacy, partly due to the lack of a reading culture, insufficiently resourced educational institutions, and inadequate emphasis on early childhood development. The resulting lower-than-average literacy level leads to delayed reading for understanding and eventually hinders educational attainment.
The reading club offers a comprehensive program to foster a reading culture and enhance reading skills through structured tutoring. Our skilled DSASLDS staff provides the tailored instruction required to obtain literacy as a deaf person. Suitable books are provided by the Neville Alexander Library on South Campus. Furthermore, HEARTS creates a supportive space where parents can share their experiences and be educated on their children’s needs.
Through this collaborative initiative our depart has an impact on foundational learning and language development in the Deaf Community, rooted in the principles of engaged scholarship.
Sessions are hosted on Saturdays on the UFS South Campus. Attendance is free and open to Deaf children and their parents. Any student, educator or community member who would like to contribute is invited to reach out to the facilitators. Contact Kelebogile Boleu at BoleuKP@ufs.ac.za or Annemarie le Roux at VanAsA1@ufs.ac.za.
Read more
Clement Matroos. 12 February 2026. UFS programme empowers deaf families. https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/ufs-programme-empowers-deaf-families/.
Kelebogile Boleu. 22 September 2025. Parenting and advocacy: The drivers of change in education for Deaf. https://centralnews.co.za/parenting-and-advocacy-the-drivers-of-change-in-education-for-deaf/.