Phonak Supports Humanitarian Hearing Mission to Zambia

WARRENVILLE, Ill., May 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- What if by 18, you had lost your parents and siblings to AIDS, then contracted the disease yourself and told you had six months to live? Would you have the strength and courage to dedicate the rest of your life to philanthropic efforts? Princess (given name, not title) Kasune Zulu did just that – and Phonak, in partnership with audiologists Ken and Nora Stewart, are pleased to team up and lend their support for her latest effort.

This author, global ambassador and founder of the Fountain of Life has outlived her grim prognosis and has spent the past 20 years working to bring sustainable healthcare and education to her home country of Zambia in southern Africa. Her journey has taken her from the village of Chibombo in Zambia to presidential visits at The White House and speeches in front of the United Nations in her quest for support.

Today, a new leg of the journey continues with an 8,000-mile trip to Zambia together with audiologists Nora and Ken Stewart and 16 other participants. Phonak, the leader in innovative hearing solutions, hosted a sendoff for the team at its U.S. headquarters and outfitted the team with hearing healthcare supplies for the trip, including 6,000 hearing aid batteries.

The team will conduct a hearing health mission and assist Princess in her efforts to build the area's first sustainable healthcare center. The Stewarts are owners of HearCare Audiology in Fort Wayne, Indiana who founded HearCare Connection, Inc. in 2011 as a nonprofit hearing center to provide hearing treatment to underserved children and adults who were otherwise unable to access affordable hearing healthcare.

"Job cutbacks and loss of income in our area had made getting treatment for hearing loss for some residents less affordable and accessible," explained Nora Stewart, "We knew we needed to do something to change the outcome for these people. As a result, we founded HearCare Connection as a nonprofit hearing center with the sole mission to build the self-worth of individuals by restoring their hearing and providing them with opportunities to engage with their communities through service to others."

About HearCare Connection
HearCare Connection, Inc. is a non-profit hearing center serving low-income children and adults with affordable and accessible hearing healthcare. Because it relies on the support of the community, the center incorporates a Circle of Giving into its patient care model. For every hearing aid patients receive, they are responsible for completing a specified number volunteer hours with a local non-profit or church as a way of thanking the community in supporting them. To find out more, visit www.hearcareconnection.org.  

About Fountain of Life
Fountain of Life provides transformational programs focused on healthcare and education that empower children, families and the community and level the playing field for the vulnerable (especially girls and women) in the rural areas of Africa, where over 60% of the population resides. The program allow those communities to take ownership and feel empowered through a long-term partnership which provides them with knowledge, skills and financial resources, along with hope for a better future. Princess Kasune Zulu, founder of the Fountain of Life in Zambia has been profiled in leading media across the world, including Good Morning America, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Jet, Ebony, BBC World News, Guardian UK, Canada Sun Times, Irish Independent and ABC (Australia). To find out more, visit http://fountainoflife-africa.org.  

About Phonak
Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of the Sonova Group, has developed, produced and globally distributed state-of-the-art hearing systems and wireless devices for more than 60 years. The combination of expertise in hearing technology, mastery in acoustics and strong cooperation with hearing care professionals allows Phonak to significantly improve people's hearing ability and speech understanding and therefore their quality of life. Phonak offers a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with complementary wireless communication systems. With a worldwide presence, Phonak drives innovation and sets new industry benchmarks regarding miniaturization and performance. To find out more about Phonak, visit www.phonak.com.

SOURCE Phonak