September 22, 2021, United States. Malala Fund and hearing health not-for-profit Cochlear Foundation have partnered to raise awareness about the barriers keeping millions of children and young people with hearing loss from accessing a quality education.

According to the World Health Organization, 34 million children around the world live with disabling hearing loss¹. Without equal access to a quality education and early access to hearing healthcare and support these children may not realize their full potential.

In response, the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate and co-founder of Malala Fund, Malala Yousafzai, called for societies and governments to prioritize hearing health across the life-course in a personal foreword for the World Health Organization’s first-ever World Report on Hearing, in March 2021.

Following this important step, Malala Fund and Cochlear Foundation, supported by Cochlear, sought to ensure hearing loss is not yet another reason girls, marginalized people and those who need hearing healthcare and support are left behind.

“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,” said Malala Yousafzai. “Hearing loss doesn’t need to be an obstacle to education.”

If children with hearing loss 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. Ultimately, this can impact their lifelong career prospects.²

This problem is exacerbated in many parts of the world where millions of children — especially girls — already face significant barriers to education.³

Cochlear Foundation Chairperson Professor Anne Simmons said hearing loss was a global issue that requires greater awareness and a global solution.

“Malala Fund and Cochlear Foundation’s missions are connected by a desire for children around the world – including those with hearing loss – to access education and embrace all of life’s opportunities.

“Cochlear Foundation is committed to supporting organizations and programs that enrich the lives of people with hearing loss and their communities, increase research into hearing loss and support hearing health professionals.”

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 program.’ This new program will highlight and publicly recognize their real-world experiences of hearing loss to promote their equal rights to an education and early access to hearing healthcare and support.

“Education for girls can transform lives, communities, countries and our world — but right now more than 130 million girls are out of school. We welcome this partnership with the Cochlear Foundation and together we hope to raise awareness about the challenges girls, including those with hearing loss, face and drive more people to join our movement for education and equality,” said Suzanne Ehlers, CEO of Malala Fund.

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.

“Cochlear supports Malala Fund’s goals of equality for girls and believes all children should have equal access to education. I also hope this important partnership will help raise awareness of the need for governments and societies to prioritize hearing health so more children and adults with hearing loss can connect with life’s opportunities.”

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

About Malala Fund

Malala Fund is working for a world where all girls can learn and lead. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education, invests in local education leaders and amplifies the voices of girls fighting for change. Learn more at malala.org. 

About Cochlear Foundation

Cochlear Foundation is a hearing health not-for-profit, supported by Cochlear, which aims to raise awareness of hearing loss and help more people around the world access life-changing hearing treatment. We envision a world where anyone, anywhere with hearing loss can live a life full of opportunities. To achieve this, we advance research in hearing treatment, encourage the skill development of healthcare professionals, and support community efforts towards inclusivity. www.cochlearfoundation.org

About Cochlear Limited

Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. The company has a global workforce of more than 4,000 people and invests more than AUD$180 million each year in research and development. Products include cochlear implants, bone conduction implants and acoustic implants, which healthcare professionals use to treat a range of moderate to profound types of hearing loss. Since 1981, Cochlear has provided more than 650,000 implantable devices, helping people of all ages, in more than 180 countries, to hear. www.cochlear.com

References  

1. World Health Organization. Factsheet: deafness and hearing loss. Available here: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss
2. World Report on Hearing, World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/world report on hearing
3. UNICEF, Gender equality in education benefits every child, https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education

The relationship between Malala Fund and Cochlear Foundation is described as a “partnership” for convenience and does not constitute a legal partnership, joint venture, agency, employment or any other relationship by which either party may become liable for the acts or omissions of the other.