In Africa, over 40 million people live with disabling hearing loss, a condition that often leads to social isolation, limited career opportunities, and poverty. Many face stigma and a lack of accessible resources, creating significant barriers to inclusion and advancement. In Tunisia, these challenges are starkly evident, with an estimated 60,000 individuals with hearing impairments struggling to access education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Confronted by these realities, Sonia Kherigi Nasfi founded Deaf Square to reshape the digital economy for Tunisia’s deaf individuals.
Her daughter, Nour El Imane, inspired this initiative. While studying sign language at university, Nour became acutely aware of the everyday struggles faced by the deaf community. Partnering with Atef Boubakri, who is deaf, Nasfi launched the company to address these challenges with practical, user-centred solutions.
The platform is an online career accelerator, equipping deaf talent with skills tailored for the modern workforce. The platform offers tech-focused training, adaptive learning tools driven by artificial intelligence, and a virtual trainer facilitating sign-language education. By bridging the gap between employers and deaf professionals, Deaf Square helps companies build diverse teams while providing deaf individuals with the tools needed to excel. Nasfi emphasises that this dual approach doesn’t just create opportunities—it fosters mutual growth for both job seekers and businesses.
Accessibility is central to Deaf Square’s design. To ensure relevance, each course is shaped by contributions from deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing collaborators. For many users, these tailored learning experiences have been life-changing, instilling the confidence and skills to succeed in workplaces that once felt out of reach.
Beyond education and employment, the platform tackles systemic obstacles faced by aspiring deaf entrepreneurs. Limited access to sign-language interpreters in government offices and business incubators often deters them from pursuing innovative ideas. It counters this by offering personalised mentorship and practical resources, empowering individuals to realise their entrepreneurial ambitions.
The company’s groundbreaking work has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, it received the Best Promising Entrepreneur Award at the AfricArena Tunis Summit and the Most Promising Entrepreneur Award at the AfricArena Grand Summit in Cape Town. These recognitions enhanced its visibility and attracted vital investments that have expanded its reach and amplified its impact.
Sonia Kherigi Nasfi envisions Deaf Square as a model for inclusivity across Africa’s digital economy. By integrating technology, education, and advocacy, the platform has created a path for deaf individuals to overcome social and professional barriers.
As Africa embraces digital transformation, the startup work highlights the need for inclusive solutions that leave no one behind. Sonia Kherigi Nasfi aims to scale Deaf Square’s impact across the continent, enabling millions to participate actively in Africa’s development. By addressing the unique needs of the deaf community, it paves the way for a more equitable and interconnected future.
