On 15 June, NID celebrated 144 years of service to the Deaf and persons with hearing loss.

So many years… an abundance of service… and so many Deaf persons… but each one a precious reminder of the original vision with which we started in 1881. To develop the full potential of the Deaf and persons with hearing loss, by providing them with essential quality services.

One of the most beautiful stories that testifies to this vision is certainly the story of our oldest resident, Piet Kotze. Uncle Piet himself recently reached a special milestone with the celebration of his 95th birthday. For many of those years, he has been part of the NID family. Here on our campus, he started school, years later served on the NID board, and for the past 12 years, NID Elderly Care has now been his home.

Thanks to that first vision in 1881 to provide education to the Deaf, Uncle Piet was able to learn here and develop the skills to continue his studies after school and become a successful craftsman. It is also here at school where he met his wife, Johanna. Together they had a full and happy life, and together they moved into NID Elderly Care in 2013. Aunt Johanna passed away in 2021, but Uncle Piet is still here at home with us.

In this full circle moment, our service to Uncle Piet has changed from essential quality education to a young boy in 1941, to essential quality care to an elderly in 2025.

There are many others like Uncle Piet whose life path have passed through NID, or crossed here, over the past 144 years. We are grateful for the role we have been able to play in each one’s life. The potential we have been able to develop. The essential quality services we have been able to provide. Above all, we are grateful for people like you who make this possible. With your support, we can continue the vision with great faith, trust, and a peaceful heart.

Please believe and trust with us for a continued difference in the lives of many others like Uncle Piet, by sending a special contribution to the benefit of the Deaf and persons with hearing loss at NID. On behalf of Deaf people like Uncle Piet who have been helped since 1881, we thank you in advance.

Clicke here for online donation

Bank details: NID Ontwikkeling, Absa, Acc 911 845 2209, Reference: 144 (your name and surname)