Partnership in Action

NEW YORK (September, 20, 2016) Bill Austin, founder Starkey Hearing Foundation (SHF), and Forest Whitaker, founder and CEO, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) and U.N. Global Ambassador, connect at the 71^st General Assembly of the United Nations to discuss sustainable development goals (SDG). The two foundations collaborate to advance peace and understanding through initiatives such as Whitaker’s Youth Peacemaker Network (YPN) and Austin’s WFA® Community-Based Hearing Health Care Program.

These two foundations have worked together to give the gift of hearing to those in need through hearing missions and aftercare programs in Northern Uganda. This past Saturday, Starkey Hearing Foundation trained former Ugandan children soldiers to become hearing health care workers, giving them the ability to change the trajectory of their life as well as to help people hear, which improves other people’s lives.

To date, more than 15 young adult peacemakers have been certified as aftercare technicians, which empowers them to support themselves, their families, and communities.  Together, the Starkey Hearing Foundation and Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative are redefining lives for the better and helping communities impacted by violence and poverty overcome obstacles to create a culture of peace. 

Photos of training in Uganda:

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