Kenyan schoolteacher Dinah says some of her best memories include the ‘ah-ha!’ moments when her students realized they could read and write. Now retired, she looks forward to evenings when she reads to her granddaughters, passing knowledge between generations.
“It’s an honour to share my passion for teaching with the girls, though there was a time when I couldn’t do that – it broke my heart.”
For six long months, Dinah experienced debilitating headaches that hindered her from reading to the girls.
Luckily, Dinah’s home was visited by a community health worker who referred her to the Iten County Referral Hospital where she got a diagnosis for presbyopia. Thanks to our partnership with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, she was provided with a complimentary pair of reading glasses. The foundation has provided more than 5,000 eyeglasses to our vision centres in Kenya since 2020.
“I’ll admit I was reluctant to start reading again,” Dinah says. “Once I did, I realized I had nothing to worry about – my headaches were gone!”
Since her headaches have dissipated, Dinah has committed two hours every day to reading to her grandkids. She marvels at their success.
“At first, the girls would have me read their schoolbooks to them,” she says. “Now they’ve started reading to me – it’s really lovely how these things come full circle.”
Donate today to help provide prescription eyeglasses for more people like Dinah.
Salome grew up picking fruit and berries with her friends in the bushes near their village in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya.
As they picked berries they would laugh and sing songs, and on their way home they would compare their handfuls of the fruit as they snacked on their bounty. But when they entered their preteen years, Salome found herself comparing her cuts and bruises to her friends', rather than berries.
“I would leave the bushes with scratches on my arms and legs,” she says. “I was bumping into branches with thorns that I couldn’t see.”
Salome was just 12 years old when her mother passed away. She moved in with her older brother who works as a casual labourer.
“My brother is very good to me, he keeps me safe and healthy, but he couldn’t find time to take me to a hospital for my eyes,” she says.
Salome had previously received eye drops but they didn’t remedy her condition. “The eye drops would help for a minute or two, but then I would go back to squinting to see things.”
Salome enjoys some schoolyard games with her classmates, proudly wearing her new eyeglasses. Photo: Mustafa Haruna
At school, Salome’s performance steadily declined. “Salome was very withdrawn. She was always in the bottom five of the class. I even caught her copying her friends’ work,” says Mr. Kimeli, the school's deputy headteacher. “I thought it was because of the loss she had suffered, but that turned out to only be half true.”
Last year, the teacher learned how to screen students for eye conditions through Operation Eyesight’s School Eye Health Program, supported by the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Child Blindness Program. “There had been no vision screenings for the students prior to this program,” he says. “Children like Salome had struggled for a long time.”
After getting an eye screening at school, Salome and two other students were referred to Huruma Eye Unit for further assessment. Operation Eyesight provided transportation for the three students, and Salome received prescription eyeglasses within one week of her eye exam.
“Now I’m comfortable sitting in the middle of the classroom, surrounded by my friends. If I wanted to, I could sit at the back of the class and still be able to see the blackboard!”
Salome and Mr. Kimeli are confident that her school performance will continue to improve as she grows.
“These glasses are changing everything in my life for the better,” she says. “I am focusing on improving my grades so that I can become a doctor and help other kids like me!”
Vision impairment disproportionately affects women and girls, and girls are less likely to be prioritized for eye health care. That’s why our school eye health programs are so important for reaching all children, regardless of gender or family income. Learn more about our commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4: Gender Equality.
Remus is a top student in his class, but his inability to see the blackboard isolated him from his peers.
“I have always loved school,” says Remus, pictured above standing outside his classroom in Mfantseman, Central Ghana. “I plan to follow in my parents’ footsteps by getting a master’s degree in the future.”
For many years, he struggled to see the blackboard, typically arriving early to get a seat at the front of the room.
“I couldn’t sit with my friends during class. I never understood why I was the only one struggling to see. It made me feel isolated from them.”
Last year, as part of our school eye health program, Remus received a vision exam from his teacher and was referred for a formal exam from the resident optometrist.
“I was prescribed glasses that have changed everything,” he says. “I thought my condition was specific to me and no one else, but there are many other students who received glasses through this program – even one of my friends!”
Remus is now able to see far-off objects with confidence and clarity.
“I’m grateful to be able to see the blackboard while sitting with my friends. I no longer feel like the odd one out at school.”
When 16-year-old Nikhil Srivalsan put on his first pair of glasses two years ago, his mind filled with memories of a family trip to India, where he noticed many seniors were affected with cataracts.
He was shocked to learn that India has one of the world’s largest blind populations, including children, and more than half of it was preventable. Nikhil realized how fortunate he was to be living in a country like Canada.
At just 16, Nikhil is making a difference in global eye health. “Having healthy eyesight is very important for learning, employment and social engagement, no matter where you live,” says Nikhil.
Inspired to help make eye care more accessible globally, Nikhil hosted an online fundraiser through Canada Helps and hopes other young philanthropists will do the same.
“I was scared initially, thinking I wouldn’t see community support, but I never let the passion fueling me die out,” he explains.
With support from friends, family and the greater community, Nikhil raised $2,164 to provide quality eye health care for underserved communities in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
“I’m grateful to the generous donors who took time to learn about Operation Eyesight and who graciously contributed to the cause.”
Nikhil says he encourages others to consider hosting fundraisers to benefit those who need it most.
“My advice to others is to remember that it sometimes takes stepping out of your comfort zone to reach your personal goals,” he says. “Hosting this fundraiser required me to do exactly that and was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.”
To learn more about hosting a community fundraiser, please connect with Leanna Smashnuk at SmashnukL@operationeyesight.com.
For the Cutlers, philanthropy is a family affair.
Marty Cutler is many things – a certified business and life coach, a former Operation Eyesight board member, lover of funky hats and the patriarch of a large, blended family.
An Operation Eyesight supporter since 1985, Marty says it’s time to engage the next generation.
Our donors are the driving force behind our progress, enabling us to make a real difference in the lives of people affected by vision loss and preventable blindness.
“Recently, Marilyn and I have included one of our children and their spouse in our philanthropy,” he says. “Making these decisions as a unit fosters the next generation of philanthropists.”
Marty’s favourite thing about our work is knowing how far his dollar goes to save a life.
“It’s not life and death in the literal sense,” he explains. “When someone becomes blind, their access to education and employment becomes limited. They’re no longer living – they’re surviving.”
Marty says when one family member loses vision, the whole house suffers.
“Someone in the family steps up to be a full-time caregiver, meaning that their opportunities are also limited.”
Marty and Marilyn know their investment in us stretches to the individual, the family, and greater community.
“It’s important we teach our grandkids the importance of philanthropy and its impact on other families. Each time we contribute to Operation Eyesight, we know our dollar goes further than we can imagine.”
At just 17, Neya Chander is painting the vision for her future as an artist. She recalls always feeling drawn to blank canvasses, eager to share images conceived in her imagination.
“Every piece represents a unique experience or time in my life,” she says. “When I was little, my grandfather would tell stories of a pond in India that was covered in water lilies. After years of hearing about the lilies, we finally visited the pond together. That memory was so meaningful that I felt compelled to capture it in a painting.”
Neya Chander's passion for painting began with memories of visiting nature with her grandfather. Today, she's using art sales to support Operation Eyesight and other good causes.
In early 2021, the proceeds from her works Trippie Hippie and Halcyon became the first of many philanthropic gifts from sales of her work through Kai Art Work (www.KaiArt.Work). Operation Eyesight was grateful to be a recipient of her generosity. Neya plans to expand her website to include other artists who want to donate the proceeds of their work and incorporate more charities as beneficiaries.
“I want to create a space for artists and buyers to come together to foster change,” she says. “The proceeds from each piece will go to the buyer’s charity of choice.”
Neya appreciates Operation Eyesight’s model for sustainable development and the efficacy of interventions like prescription glasses and cataract surgery.
“I need glasses for all my daily activities. Without them, I couldn’t drive, do homework. It’s easy for me to get a prescription for a new pair,” she says. “But globally, access is limited. A simple intervention like prescription glasses or cataract surgery can have a profound impact on someone’s quality of life. Supporting organizations that create meaningful impact is extremely important to me.”
