Emotional Farewell and New Beginnings

For these graduates, the ceremony was a bittersweet experience. Leaving behind the enriching and unified goal environment of their academic journey, they were eager to embark on efforts that would bring about change in their communities and clinics. The fine paper of their certificates, held tightly in their hands, symbolized the potential for positive transformation.

The Graduation Day

The 2023 Starkey Hearing Institute graduation ceremony, held at the event center, was a culmination of a year of hard work and dedication. Just days before, these graduates had been on that very concrete serving a hearing mission, where over 500+ served individuals with 363 hearing aids provided to those in need —a testament to their commitment to making a difference.

Inspiring Words and Encouragement

Honored speakers took the stage, sharing words of passion, inspiration, and purpose. They spoke of the impact each graduate would make as hearing healthcare professionals, bringing the gift of sound to thousands across Africa. The ceremony was not just a recognition of academic achievement but a call to action, a reminder of the responsibility that comes with their newfound skills and training.

A Private Moment of Reflection

As each graduate crossed the stage, the audience witnessed a public acknowledgment of their accomplishments. Yet, it was in the quiet moments that followed, as the graduates took their seats and opened their certificate books, that the true depth of their emotions surfaced. Their names printed on those certificates represented more than just a title; it symbolized the power to change lives and bring hope.

Unity Over Lunch

After the ceremony, once strangers became a united front under the tents. Connected by a shared desire to help those without access to hearing health or hope, the graduates and their supporters shared a meal. Their collective mission was clear—to make a difference in the lives of those who desperately needed it, enabling them to hear the world around them, from the sounds of work and colleagues to the laughter of their children.

A Milestone Achieved

Congratulations echoed through the air as the graduates joined the Starkey Hearing Foundation family. The total number of trained hearing healthcare professionals serving sub-Saharan Africa now stood at an impressive 103. This milestone is not just a number; it represents the collective impact these individuals will have on communities and lives.

If you are inspired by their journey and wish to contribute to the hearing cause, consider donating or reaching out to info@starkeyfoundation.org.

Become a part of the movement that is bringing the gift of hearing and hope to those in need.

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The class of 2021 graduates are now trained Hearing Instrument Specialists equipped with the knowledge to better serve their communities. They now carry the torch as hearing healthcare ambassadors helping to care for patients and doing their part in bridging the gap to bring ear care and services to people from their communities.

The 2021 student class has embodied what it truly means to care. Students are already putting their training into practice by conducting ear and hearing healthcare screenings for seniors, students, mothers, and their babies—educating each group on the importance of hearing and self-check and teaching mothers on how they too can screen their children for hearing loss.

We are so proud of what the 2021 student class was able to achieve amid the ongoing pandemic. Though we were not able to gather in person to celebrate, our heartfelt congratulations go to our students on their academic achievements.

A big thanks to the amazing team at the Starkey Hearing Institute for creating a safe environment for the students to thrive and learn—keeping us updated on the government protocols and changes throughout the year.

Special thanks to our wonderful donors and friends who helped to make 2021 possible. Through your donation and commitment, we are building teams skilled in ear and hearing healthcare.

We thank you for your contributions and look forward to your continued support in 2022.

You can support us by donating at https://donate.starkeyhearingfoundation.org/ or through our Donor Advised Fund.

For more information contact us at (866) 354-3254.

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The beginning of 2020 came with so much excitement for the Starkey Hearing Institute. There was so much planned; the recruitment of students for the Class of 2020 was done in 2019 and everything was going according to plan; The campus was cleaned and ready for the arrival of the students representing 5 African countries including Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda. As the students started to arrive, everyone was excited and looking forward to a beautiful year as there was so much to accomplish in our 5th cohort since the opening of the institution in 2016.

However, little did we know that there was a Disruption heading our way. The world as we knew it came to a stop, boarders were closed, countries went under lockdown as a global pandemic swept through world. The pandemic, Covid-19, which started off gradually, went on to ravage countries the world over.

Despite the disruption, the Starkey hearing Institute, which has always been a forward thinking organization, quickly devised a solution to create a safe bubble for the students to live and learn by locking down the campus and having some lecturers that already live on campus offer face to face classes with others such as the program director Dr Mwamba who lives off campus, teaching remotely using platforms such as Zoom, Teams, and Canvas. This provided an opportunity for the students to continue with their studies and engage in group discussions.

As the Covid-19 cases reduced, the Government and Ministry of Health eased the restrictions in the country, and this meant that students could now start their clinical practicum within very carefully controlled safe environments. To achieve this, SHI partnered with a private practice to ensure that all Covid-19 preventative measures were in place for the safety of the patients and the students. Within this environment, the students were able to gain valuable practical experience and to serve patients and practice offer Aftercare services to patients that were served in past hearing missions. During this difficult time, some patients came to the SHI campus in small groups, and by appointment, to have their hearing assessed using the WFA Community-based Hearing Healthcare program. The WFA program allowed for service to be continued without the need to go into a clinical setting. This is the value that the WFA Community-based model brings to hearing healthcare by being able to allow service to continue from within any setting. Ten months later, in November 2020, the students were ready to graduate and ready to head back home with a new skill and zeal to serve their communities. As part of their graduation procedures they were able to fit 200 local Zambians and do Aftercare for almost 50 patients spread out over 1 week, in conjunction with LDS Charities.

After Graduation Students went back to their respective countries and began their Journey of serving patients in their hospitals and communities with their newly acquired skill and title as hearing Instrument Specialist turning various Audiology departments in their countries but most of all serving their communities as the much needed service that was nonexistent is now available in 15 African countries.

Talk about resilience, commitment and Hard work… We are so proud of the amazing class of 2020 for beating all the odds and emerging as hearing care angles…So the world may hear!

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Although we treat every day like World Hearing Day, our teams made an incredible impact during the weeks leading up to and on the day of March 3^rd. We held Phase 2 missions in Kenya, Uganda, the Philippines, Mexico, Panama, Guyana and Jordan in the days and weeks leading up to World Hearing Day. In addition, we held AfterCare services in many countries – Bolivia, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Armenia, El Salvador and Peru, just to name a few.

On World Hearing Day, we held two Phase 2 missions, one in Kenya and one in Jamaica, along with holding many AfterCare sessions worldwide. In Jamaica, we served over 325 patients and in Kenya, we served over 150 patients. We are proud to say that we changed countless lives during this short amount of time.

One special mission patient story from our Kenya World Hearing Day mission was that of five-year-old Alivia. She was a spunky and energetic young girl. She was born with hearing loss but lit up after being fit with hearing aids, so much so that our team caught her dancing along to some music. She was even kind enough to help comfort other kids during their hearing aid fitting.

At our Jamaica World Hearing Day mission, we met an older gentleman named Henry. He was very shy when he first arrived at the mission site. After being fit, we could see by his expressions that he was filled with joy. Now, with the help of his hearing aids, he is hoping to become employed and gain some financial stability.

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Our mission in Panama City was during Carnaval, a celebration of Panamanian culture and traditions that takes place in the heart of the city. We served many grateful patients whose lives had been severely impacted by hearing loss. Our local partners, Marisa Canales, CEO of Instituto Panameño de Habilitación Especial (IPHE); Dr. Guillermo Rodriguez, Clinical Director of IPHE; Mario Hines, President of the Lion´s Club and members from the Club Chino-Panameño were on hand to help us serve over 375 patients and provide nearly 730 hearing aids. Carnaval framed our hearing missions perfectly—spreading joy and hope so the world may hear.

Amidst all the vibrant colors, dressed in a patterned ocher dress, Aitza Yolianis Villareal arrived at the site, accompanied by her mother. The shy teen had struggled her entire life with the negative effects of hearing loss and seemed to understand the significance of the moment. She sat quietly, observing other patients getting fit and watching our fitters work their magic with trepidation. Soon, it was her turn and Aitza was transformed—her joy boundless, her laughter infectious and her smile radiant. Her mother was overcome with emotion watching Aitza react to all the new sounds around her. It was a truly heart-warming scene that is all too common at our hearing missions. Aitza was in effect reborn—rediscovering her world from an entirely different perspective. She could now see the limitless possibilities that lay before her thanks to the life-changing gift of hearing.

Stories like this one and countless others that unfolded during the mission energize our teams and keep us determined to help as many people as possible reach their potential and improve their lives.

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In addition to talking about our work, we provided an exclusive opportunity to view our new immersive, 360-degree virtual reality video about the Starkey Hearing Institute. This video gives viewers a look at our Starkey Hearing Institute campus grounds and shares the purpose and importance of the Institute.

During his speech, Chairman of Special Olympics, Dr. Timothy Shriver, shared his thoughts on watching a Special Olympian hear for the first time at the World Games in 2019. He said, “I happened to have the privilege of being there, near that moment. You all are used to this but just remember for those of us who are not in your business, the chance to witness the miracles you produce is a miracle in and of itself, super huge privilege for us, all of us in Special Olympics and for me personally.”

Dr. Shriver and Special Olympian, Rob Doyle, even came to our booth to personally experience the virtual reality video. He also took the time to chat with some of our team and learn more about what we have been doing recently.

Sir Richard Branson was also kind enough to share his thoughts on his mission experience with us during his onstage interview: “And suddenly this scream of joy as she heard her mother’s voice and of all the things I’ve done in my life, that one moment I will remember above all other moments.”

While at the Expo, we took the opportunity to meet with some of our knowledge international team members, Global Committee and partners to discuss strategies for our program for the year ahead.

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Brittany, along with her classmates, chronicled her experience and captured the emotions and exuberance of both patients and volunteers on this mission. She continues, “The first patient I fit was Alice. Alice and her family traveled two hours to San Salvador on her THIRD birthday. On my knees and on the side of her, I began saying “babababa” and after the third “ba” she turned to me immediately. Alice’s face was illuminated, and her jaw dropped! Her mother instantly looked away and began to cry. After being fit with two hearing aids, Alice’s mother expressed that she was concerned her daughter would never hear. Humming baba black sheep to Alice is a memory I could never forget. 

Each person I fit with hearing aids told me how grateful they were. They thanked me for being there and caring enough to help them and for the opportunities that the hearing aids will give them.  I will forever share how important the work of the Starkey Hearing Foundation is!” 

Kristen, another audiology student shared her life-altering experience:

“I was very excited to be selected to join the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission trip to El Salvador. The experience exceeded my expectations in every way. The Starkey team involved made us all feel welcome and a part of the team from the moment we arrived. I will never forget my very first patient. It was an older woman who was accompanied by her daughter. I went through the steps that we had been taught from our trainings and was excited to put it into practice with the patient.  My professors had explained what some of the reactions would be like, but to witness them firsthand was magical!  The feeling I felt seeing how happy she was to hear with the hearing aids is one that will stay with me forever. The mother and her daughter were crying tears of joy, and as she grabbed my hand to thank me, I was flooded with emotion.  I could not wait to continue to help the people of El Salvador to hear and every patient thereafter was an unbelievable connection. I came home with my heart full and will carry this experience with me always.”

Raissa El-Houayek had a similar experience during the hearing mission:

“My dream has turned into a reality to say the least. Having been a part of the Starkey Hearing Foundation El Salvador mission trip, changed my perspective on life completely! I will carry all the laughs, the tears, the smiles, and the blessings for the rest of my life. There are many moments that have made this mission trip so special. To name a few, looking at a mother with hope in her eyes when her daughter turned to a sound for the first time in her life, a lady hearing after ten years of being deprived and crying as soon as the hearing-aid battery door closed, and a gentleman who was now able to hear his newborn’s laughs. I would stop what I was doing for a few seconds and simply look around and take it all in. I will cherish all the tight hugs for the rest of my life. I will continue looking at pictures and reminding myself I have a purpose and I am on the right path. I will continue changing the lives of others as they have changed mine in return. Thank you, Starkey Hearing Foundation, for this truly unforgettable experience.”

Audiology student Joanne echoes the same sentiments:

“Going into this experience, I was both excited and nervous. Excited, because I knew it was going to be a new adventure, and I had the opportunity to help people; but also nervous, because I had no idea how receptive the patients would be to my help, and how I would be able to communicate with a language barrier. Although we had interpreters, I was still worried that I wouldn’t be able to meet the patients’ needs or that I wouldn’t understand what they needed. I couldn’t have been more wrong! 

My most memorable patient was a profoundly deaf woman who communicated via sign language. This was a great challenge because I was already having difficulty with the Spanish language, let alone sign language. But once I fit her, the language barrier was completely torn down by her beaming smile. She lit up in that moment and I realized that nothing, not even a language barrier could stand in the way of my connection with her. We hugged, we cried and we both knew that this was special! 

This opportunity offered to us by Starkey Hearing Foundation turned out to be the most humbling and greatest experience of my life, personally and professionally. Words can’t express what I have learned or how grateful I am to have had the best team to share my first mission with. I hope to get another opportunity like this in the near future.   

Kristina, another future audiologist whose life was altered by the hearing mission, recounts:

“I was deeply humbled by the outpouring of love and appreciation from my patients. Some had long journeys, traveling countless hours from nearby countries seeking our help. Others had never heard their loved ones speak. Some children were nervous but anxiously hoped to hear the voice of their mother for the first time. Endless hugs, praise, and blessings from loved ones will always resonate in my mind. All the fears that I had prior to this experience were replaced with joy, fulfillment and triumph! I understood in a short amount of time the importance of human connection, kindness and compassion.

As someone once said, “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” Thank You, Starkey Hearing Foundation, for this unforgettable, life-changing opportunity. So The World May Hear, So El Salvador May Hear.”

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The 2019 graduates represent five countries from around Africa. They have studied and been trained in professional ear and hearing health, including Starkey Hearing Foundation’s WFA Community-Based Hearing HealthCare Program and WHO Primary Ear and Hearing Care courses, as well as the Public Health Approach for District Level Ear and Hearing Health course developed by The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Graduates will now return to their communities to provide desperately needed hearing healthcare services for people throughout Africa. 

“Service before self. We see and believe this and it’s what makes us different,” said Dr. Alfred Mwamba Au.D., Executive Director, Starkey Hearing Institute. Starkey Hearing Foundation Founder, William F. Austin added,“With the heart of many and hands working together, we can move the world. We will put more smiles on people’s faces. We will bring joy to life.”

Starkey Hearing Institute opened in 2016 to help meet the growing need for more hearing healthcare professionals in Africa. The commencement ceremony was held on the Institute’s campus at the newly constructed Juliet Wheeler Event Center Foundation which was sponsored by dedicated supporters of the Foundation. The Foundation was honored to welcome Zambia’s First Lady, Madam Esther Lungu in attendance as well as members from Delta Zeta Sorority National who are passionate supporters of the Foundation’s mission.

“This has been years of very good output and impact, not just for us here in Zambia, but for many parts of the world,” said Madame Esther Lungu, First Lady of Zambia. “The investments they (the Foundation) make into this facility are a testament to the long-term commitment to the education of the Starkey Hearing Foundation family.”

“We have received the best education that anyone could receive in this world. We are going out there, and we are going to work as if each of us has got 100 hands.” said Linus, 2019 Class President.

Starkey Hearing Foundation has a goal of educating and training 300 community-based hearing healthcare professionals at the Institute by 2030. To date, 41 students from 15 countries throughout Africa have graduated from the Institute.

During the graduation weekend, the graduates held their final hearing mission on the Institute’s grounds, serving over 200 people, providing over 245 hearing aids to those in need. The hearing mission encompassed the WFA Community-Based Hearing HealthCare Model of fitting hearing aids and serving a mass group of people in one day.  The smiles and success were evident during the entire day. We were excited to have the executive team from our partners, Delta Zeta, at the graduation and mission in Zambia.

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This mission was such a blessing to the people of the Solomon Islands who have hearing loss and do not have the resources to obtain hearing aids. While there is an Ear, Nose, and Throat Department, currently there are no hearing rehabilitation services in the Solomon Islands. By establishing our community-based program in the Solomon Islands, we are finally able to help fill the gap. During this mission, we were again able to see the importance of our work and how our programs help people connect to life through hearing. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services of the National Referral Hospital members were amazed by the work our team was able to accomplish over these two days. As they witnessed the great need for such services in their community, they expressed their deep support of our program and future missions.

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When we first heard about medical camps being conducted in the region by the Karma Thalo Foundation, we did not hesitate to join the entourage and help the cause. Lisankhu is a remote village on the foothill of the Himalayan mountain ranges and there our team stayed in tents with limited access to electricity, water, and plumbing. Our team walked about 25 minutes through the mountainous terrain to get to the mission site. Despite the lack of resources and unfavorable climate, we were ready to support the people waiting eagerly for the gift of hearing. 

Samiksha, a sweet young girl, was diagnosed with hearing loss at just four years old. Originally, a hospital told Samiksha’s family that she required a cochlear implant. Unable to afford the cost of the procedure, her family took her in for a follow-up visit at the age of six. During this visit, her hearing loss was re-confirmed, but this time, they advised that Samiksha get binaural hearing aids. Again, her parents could not afford the hearing aids so they brought her to the medical camp where she could get her ears checked and cleaned, in hopes that that might eventually help. This mission provided Samiksha with an opportunity that she may have never otherwise seen. We were able to finally fit her with the hearing aids she needed. Samiksha’s face lit up with happiness and her joy was so contagious that everyone around her had tears in their eyes. At the end of her visit, some of our team members advised her mother on speech rehabilitation and mainstreaming.

An older gentleman named Tej was referred to our mission by Nima, whom we met at our Afghanistan mission. We contacted Tej to inform him of our upcoming Nepal mission. Tej traveled hours to receive the gift of hearing from our team and we were thrilled that we could help him. After the mission, Nima shared that Tej is very satisfied with his hearing aids and grateful for the help we provided him.

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