Organization: Children Relief Service
Title: Hear to Learn: Advancing Ear and Hearing Care for Children in Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
Hear to learn: Advancing ear and hearing care for children in Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi
Description:
Children Relief Service (CRS), a refugee-led, community-based organization in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi, will mark World Hearing Day 2026 with a series of coordinated activities aimed at raising awareness, promoting prevention, and supporting early identification of hearing challenges among children. Our activities, centered under the theme “Let’s act now to make ear and hearing care a reality for every child,” will take place on 3 March 2026, with follow-up initiatives throughout the week to ensure sustained community engagement.
In Dzaleka Refugee Camp, many children experience undetected hearing difficulties, which can affect their learning, communication, and social development. Through this initiative, CRS seeks to address these gaps by providing children, families, educators, and community volunteers with practical knowledge and support for protecting and maintaining ear and hearing health.
The event will include child-centered hearing awareness sessions designed to be engaging and participatory. Using games, storytelling, and drawings, children will learn about how hearing works, the common causes of hearing loss, and simple measures they can take to protect their ears. The sessions are tailored to different age groups to ensure understanding and to make learning enjoyable, memorable, and interactive.
CRS will also organize parent and caregiver sessions to raise awareness about early signs of hearing difficulties, common ear infections, and the importance of timely care. These sessions aim to equip caregivers with the knowledge and confidence to support their children’s hearing health and overall development. Many families in the camp are eager to help their children but lack access to accurate information; these sessions will bridge that gap and encourage proactive care-seeking.
Integration with primary health care services is a key component of the initiative. CRS will collaborate with local health partners to conduct basic hearing screening for children and establish clear referral pathways for those who require further assessment or treatment. Activities will be adapted to children’s developmental stages and communication needs to ensure accessibility and effectiveness.
To extend the reach of the initiative, CRS will carry out school-based and community outreach. This will involve small group discussions, distribution of posters and informational materials, and engagement of teachers, youth leaders, and volunteers as advocates for ear and hearing care. These outreach efforts will emphasize safe listening practices, prevention of ear infections, and the importance of early identification and intervention.
All activities will adhere to child safeguarding principles and ensure inclusive participation. Children with disabilities, those affected by trauma, and other vulnerable groups will be included in a safe and respectful manner. By embedding inclusion and child protection into every aspect of the event, CRS aims to create an environment where every child can benefit from hearing health education and services.
Through this initiative, CRS expects to achieve several key outcomes. Children and caregivers will gain a deeper understanding of hearing care and prevention. Early identification and referral of children with hearing difficulties will be strengthened. The wider community will become more engaged in promoting hearing health, and stronger linkages will be established between families, schools, and health services to support children’s learning, communication, and social participation.
By celebrating World Hearing Day 2026 in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, CRS contributes to global efforts to ensure that ear and hearing care is accessible to every child, including those living in humanitarian settings. The initiative aligns with principles of primary health care, early childhood development, and inclusive education, emphasizing prevention, early detection, and equitable access to services. Through these efforts, CRS strives to empower children and families, protect hearing health, and support meaningful participation in education and community life.
Primary site: AFR – Malawi
Region: AFR
Secondary sites:no
General Photos
Types of Engagement:
Live event: Yes
Screening: Yes
Traditional media: Yes
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations: persons with disabilities (including hearing loss), children and adolescents, migrants or refugees
Met with individual policymaker: Yes
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: Yes
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: Yes