Our history
Sound Seekers, formerly known as The Commonwealth Society for the Deaf, sprang from humble beginnings in 1959, initiated by Lady Templer, the wife of the Governor of Malaya (now Malaysia), whose time there inspired her to assemble a group of ENT surgeons, audiologists, and educators of the deaf. She convinced them to travel back with her to Malaya to offer their help to children affected by hearing loss and ear disease.
The first thirty years of the Society’s existence saw it operate at a comparatively low-level of activity, carrying out focussed pieces of research into deafness and sending small working groups of volunteers overseas to provide several weeks of practical assistance per year.
In 1991 the Society launched it’s Audiological Maintenance Training (AMT) course, and began to develop larger, lasting and sustainable projects in partnership with overseas agencies and governments.
Organisation’s major achievements to date:
- Our HARK! programme has been established in 10 countries to date. Each HARK! goes through a set up phase before being handed over to the country to ensure sustainability.
- Over 200,000 children have been helped by HARK teams so far.
- We built the 1st Sub Saharan WHO affiliated Hearing Assessment/Research Centre in Ghana.
- Over 140 students from 27 countries have been trained in maintenance of audiology technology through Sound Seekers’ AMT course.
- We have developed an Audiology network in Guyana.
- We have worked with partner agencies to support Vocational training for young deaf adults.
- Solar panels, water harvesting equipment, earmould labs and text books have been delivered to schools in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya, where we are currently building a vocational secondary school.