Brett Lee Visits Mumbai's TEACH Institute

Brett Lee, the Australian cricket legend, visited the Training & Educational Centre for Hearing Impaired (TEACH) in Sion, Mumbai, on Saturday. He expressed his support for the organisation's efforts to expand higher education and employment opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) youth across India.

Lee has a personal connection to hearing loss, which has driven his commitment to promoting hearing awareness and inclusion. In 2011, his son Preston suffered temporary hearing loss following a serious head injury. This experience prompted Lee to champion early detection of hearing loss, newborn hearing screening, and access to cochlear implants.

During his visit, Lee toured the TEACH campus and interacted with founders Aman Sharma and Deepesh Nair. They shared their journey of transitioning from careers in management consulting to learning Indian Sign Language and establishing the institute. The founders aimed to address the shortage of specialised higher education opportunities for DHH students.

Lee also met students and learned about TEACH's integrated programme, which combines academic education with vocational training and employability skills. The programme supports students through a preparatory year, Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) education, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Additionally, it provides training in accounting software, management information systems, information technology, design, written English, and Indian Sign Language.

The programme culminates in corporate internships and placements, with graduates securing jobs in fields such as accounting, human resources, sales, procurement, and other corporate functions. TEACH currently operates campuses in Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi, and is expanding to Hyderabad and plans to open a centre in Kolkata.

Lee interacted with students who represent their states and the country in sports, joining them in a sporting session that highlighted confidence-building and teamwork. He said, 'My experience with my son's hearing loss made me understand how profoundly hearing can shape a child's life. Visiting TEACH, I saw an institution that is ensuring that being Deaf or Hard of Hearing does not define what a young person can achieve.'

Aman Sharma, co-founder of TEACH, said Lee's visit would inspire students and strengthen efforts to promote inclusion. Lee also met representatives of Social Venture Partners (SVP) India, which has been mentoring and supporting TEACH over the past three years. SVP India Chairperson Govind Iyer said the visit underscored the importance of partnerships in creating greater educational and career opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth.

The visit highlights the importance of promoting inclusion and providing opportunities for DHH youth. It also showcases the efforts of organisations like TEACH in creating a supportive environment for DHH students to pursue higher education and careers.

In conclusion, Brett Lee's visit to TEACH Institute is a significant step towards promoting inclusion and providing opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth. It emphasizes the need for organisations and individuals to work together to create a supportive environment for DHH students to pursue their dreams.