Leadership

Andrew Foster’s chief goal in Africa was religious education and conversion, and he felt countries were responsible for the general education of their own deaf citizens. With some success, he persuaded authorities to take on the responsibility, and encouraged networking and collaboration among educators. In 1965, he organized the first conference on deaf education in Africa.

He also believed deaf Africans should be the leaders in their countries. As an outsider, a cornerstone of his strategy was to identify and train future leaders. His efforts were successful, as those leaders continued his work even after Foster moved on to establish schools elsewhere in Africa.

Foster posing outside a building with several people under a sign with an ear and a slash through it. Behind them is a fence in front of the tan-walled building.

As much work as he did personally, Foster knew he could not do everything himself. He held leadership training and conferences at his headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, inviting both deaf and hearing leaders to participate. He was seen as friendly and accessible to his protégés and colleagues.
Andrew Foster with leadership training participants in Ethiopia, 1984
Courtesy of the Andrew Foster Family Collection

A classroom in Africa. Students are sitting at desks, looking towards the teacher, who is standing next to a chalkboard, pointing at words with a stick, while a student stands on the other side, signing the words.

Much as Laurent Clerc used his native French sign language when he arrived in the U.S., Andrew Foster taught in American Sign Language. To this day, ASL is used in much of central Africa, alongside native sign languages.

Students in class at Ibadan Mission School for the Deaf, Nigeria, 1960
Courtesy of the Andrew Foster Family Collection