Organization: African Youth Employment Initiative (AYEI)
Title: World Hearing Day 2026
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
World Hearing Day 2026
Description:
The African Youth Employment Initiative (AYEI) will commemorate World Hearing Day on 3 March through a joint outreach in a selected school to promote hearing care for children. This activity responds to the global call to connect homes, communities, and schools so that every child can hear, learn, and grow well.
Childhood hearing loss often goes unnoticed, especially in low-resource settings like Malawi. When it is not detected early, it can lead to delayed speech, poor school performance, social isolation, mental health challenges, and long-term economic difficulties. Many of these problems can be prevented through early awareness, routine screening, and timely treatment of ear infections, reducing exposure to loud noise, and avoiding the use of herbs or other substances in the ear. However, knowledge about proper ear and hearing care remains low among parents, caregivers, teachers, and children. This activity, therefore, aims to give learners access to information and screening services. And generally, practical and easy-to-understand actions they can use to protect their hearing within their school environment and home as well.
The one-day event will include several connected activities: preparation of materials, community awareness, school-based education and engagement, and basic screening with referral. A simple guide will be followed to organize the work, including forming a campaign team.
First, the lead person will review all materials and organize the core and implementation teams before the school event. Community members will be informed through the Parent–Teacher Association, local leaders, and youth volunteers. Messages will focus on recognizing early signs of hearing problems, practicing safe ear care, avoiding inserting objects into the ear, the importance of immunization, and knowing when to seek medical help. This step will prepare parents and caregivers to support children who may be identified with hearing challenges.
Second, school-based education and engagement will take place at the selected primary school. Pupils, teachers, parents, community representatives, and health workers will participate. Sessions will be interactive and suitable for children, using demonstrations, visual aids, storytelling, and group discussions. Topics will include how hearing works, prevention of ear infections, safe listening habits, reducing stigma, and how classmates can support peers with hearing difficulties. Teachers will also receive guidance on how to recognize learners who may not be hearing well and how to make classrooms more inclusive.
Children at the event will receive simple ear and hearing checks conducted by trained health workers. Those with suspected problems will be recorded and referred to nearby health facilities for further examination and treatment. Parents will be advised on follow-up care. This screening will turn awareness into practical action and allow early intervention.
The activity will promote participation, inclusion, and sustainability. Youth volunteers will help run sessions, showing community involvement and leadership. Educational materials will remain at the school for continued learning after the event. Attendance records, screening results, and referrals will be documented to measure the impact.
Expected results include increased knowledge about hearing care among children and adults, better attitudes toward ear health, early identification of children with possible hearing loss, and stronger links between communities, schools, and health services. By connecting homes to classrooms, the activity will help make hearing care a shared responsibility.
Overall, this World Hearing Day event aims not only to raise awareness but also to encourage lasting action so that preventable hearing loss is reduced and every child has a fair chance to communicate, participate, and succeed in school and in life.
Primary site: AFR – Malawi
Region: AFR
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, older adults, rural or remote population, children on the street
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: No