Zambia Hunt

Name: Dr. Andrew Foster (27 June 1925 – 3 December 1987) 

Background:  Andrew Foster was born in Alabama, USA in 1925. He lost his hearing at the age of 11 after contracting spinal meningitis. His brother also contracted spinal meningitis at the same time and became deaf.  Under segregation in the USA at this time, schooling for the deaf was only up to the 6th grade. Andrew pursued his education by taking night classes and finally earned his high school diploma by correspondence at the age of 26yrs.  After multiple rejections, he was finally accepted to Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, in 1951. Foster graduated with a degree in education, the first African-American to earn a BA at Gallaudet University. He then went on to earn two other Master’s degrees in 1955 and 1956.  Andrew Foster married Berta in 1961; they met at the Congress for Deaf in Germany in 1959. They had four children together.  Foster would go on to become a missionary educator for the deaf in Africa.

Accomplishments: According to the history of Andrew Foster, which was recorded by the Christian Mission for the Deaf, he responded to God’s call to reach the deaf in Africa with the gospel, despite being deaf himself. “Finding no mission that would support his call, he set out on his own and founded Christian Mission for the Deaf in 1956. Over the next thirty years, God used CMD to open a total of 31 schools for the deaf, starting first in Ghana, then Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Togo, Chad, Senegal, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Burkina Faso, Burundi, and Gabon. About the same number of Sunday schools and churches were established in those countries, including Kenya, Sierra Leone, Congo, and Guinea. A number of Africans from various countries were trained by CMD to lead the work on a local level. Some of these schools were taken over by their governments or other groups. CMD is looking forward to establishing more schools and churches in other unreached areas as the Lord leads and provides the means and the workers.”

Foster was deeply concerned that the deaf would hear the gospel and be saved. He wrote several articles that clearly described this as his life passion. Foster died in a plane crash in Rwanda in December of 1987.  In October 2004, Gallaudet University honored Andrew Foster with the title “Father of Deaf Education in Africa.”  His legacy lives on and is carried out by all those who seek to win the deaf to Christ in Africa.

Lessons for Deaf Training in Africa: Andrew Foster’s efforts to train educators for the deaf in Africa were a crucial part of his mission to establish and sustain deaf education in Africa. Foster believed that if the deaf could not communicate, they would never hear the gospel and be saved.

1. Train-the-Trainer Approach: Foster recognized that for deaf education to be sustainable in Africa, he needed to train local educators. He implemented a “train-the-trainer” model, where he would educate African teachers who would then go on to teach others.
2. Establishment of Training Centers: In addition to schools, Foster established teacher training centers in several countries. One notable example was the Christian Mission School for the Deaf in Ibadan, Nigeria, which served as both a school and a training center for deaf educators.
3. Curriculum Development: Foster developed curricula that were culturally appropriate and relevant to the African context. He adapted American Sign Language to create local sign languages, incorporating indigenous signs and concepts.
4. Emphasis on Sign Language: At a time when many deaf education programs worldwide focused on oral methods, Foster emphasized the importance of sign language. He trained teachers in sign language and advocated for its use as the primary mode of instruction.
5. Leadership Development: Foster didn’t just train classroom teachers; he also focused on developing deaf leaders who could take on administrative roles in schools and advocate for deaf rights.
6. Short-Term Training Programs: He organized short-term training programs and workshops for deaf and hearing educators, often involving experts from the United States.
7. Scholarships and Further Education: Foster arranged for promising African deaf students and educators to study in the United States, particularly at Gallaudet University. Many of these individuals returned to Africa to become leaders in deaf education.
8. Collaboration with Local Authorities: He worked closely with local education authorities in various countries, helping to develop policies and standards for deaf education.
9. Resource Development: Foster created and distributed educational materials, including sign language dictionaries and teaching guides, to support the educators he trained.
10. Ongoing Support: Even after establishing schools and training initial staff, Foster provided ongoing support and consultation to ensure the quality and sustainability of the programs.
11. Cross-Cultural Training: He trained educators not just in teaching methods but also in understanding and bridging cultural differences, which is particularly important for foreign volunteers or teachers. 
12. Empowerment of Deaf Teachers: Foster particularly focused on training deaf individuals as teachers, believing they could serve as powerful role models for deaf students.

Foster’s holistic and forward-thinking approach to training educators was key to the long-term impact and success of his work in Africa. He aimed not just to establish schools but to create self-sustaining educational systems that would continue and expand after his direct involvement ended. This focus on training and empowering local educators was key to the success and long-term impact of his work in Africa.

Central Africa Baptist University seeks to further Andrew Foster’s legacy and mission by investing in education for deaf teachers, preachers, and ministry leaders through a fully integrated education experience that offers sign language interpretation for all classes. Equally important is equipping the hearing with Zambian Sign Language skills that will bridge the gap between hearing and non-hearing in Zambia. For more information on the sign language and deaf studies program, reach out to the director, chunt@cabuniversity.com.