July 18, 2024
Since 2020, Clovernook Center has been working with more than a dozen schools in East Africa, where braille literacy rates are low, to get accessible materials into the hands of children with blindness or low vision through its Tactile Literacy program.
The program has expanded each year. In October 2023, Samuel Foulkes, director of braille production and accessible innovation, visited educational centers and schools near the Kenyan cities of Nairobi and Mombasa to distribute 2,000 new print/braille books and 3D model kits.
October also marked the launch of the next phase of the Tactile Literacy Initiative — the creation of a community printing center in Nairobi. Clovernook Center and its longtime partner, Dominic Kiamba, have opened an office in Nairobi with two 3D printers. This allows for local printing of 3D models and eliminates the need to print and ship models from the United States.
“Having this space available in Nairobi has been a game changer,” said Kiamba, “3D printed models have brought geography, math and biology to life, allowing students who are blind or visually impaired to explore concepts hands-on.”
“Through 3D printing, our students in East Africa can now fully engage with educational content, leading to a deeper understanding and greater academic success,” Kiamba continued. “Since opening the makerspace in Nairobi, the demand for 3D printed models has increased immensely. Schools in the region have been transformed. Teachers are now more motivated than ever to teach STEM subjects to visually impaired learners.”
The Nairobi makerspace also allows community members to learn about 3D printing and how it can be used to provide affordable, high-quality tools for classrooms.
For more information about Clovernook Center’s Tactile Literacy program, follow Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired on Facebook.
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