The deaf-led startup tackling deafness in rural Africa and beyond

‘Deaf children in Africa are often denied the right to education simply because they can’t afford hearing aids. We wanted to change that,’ says Sarah Molema, Deaftronics founder.

So far, Deaftronics has supplied thousands of solar-powered hearing aids across the Southern African region. Countries such as Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Lesotho have already seen the life-changing impacts of this innovation. Teachers report improved classroom participation, while parents share emotional stories of their children.

But Deaftronics isn’t stopping here. With a mission to empower deaf individuals everywhere, the company is now eyeing continental expansion, and even global reach. The goal is bold but grounded in experience, empathy, and a simple but adaptable product designed for resilience.

Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Deaftronics is that it’s entirely led by hearing-impaired individuals. In a tech world often dominated by outsiders ‘solving’ problems for marginalized communities, Deaftronics flips the script. The founders are community members who deeply understand the silence they’re trying to break and the nuances of challenges faced.

This lived experience ensures that the company’s mission is rooted in dignity, accessibility and sustainability. Every element, from product design to the market strategy, is guided by people who know what it means to be left out, and what it means to fight back.

With hearing comes learning, interaction, and opportunity. Without it, many deaf children are unjustly seen as incapable or unteachable, leading to stigma, associated dropout rates, and poverty. The start-up’s solar-powered hearing aids do more than amplify sound; they amplify hope, especially in regions where nihilism had set in over generations.

As Deaftronics continues to scale, the dream is clear; a continent, and eventually, a world, where every deaf child, no matter where they live, can hear, learn, and thrive without technical or economic obstacles getting in the way.

Thanks to the brilliance of this Botswana-based team, the future is already sounding a little more joyous.