Helping to restore sight is a humbling experience

A humbling experience … This was the view for all who participated in the Eyes For the World outreach project at several schools in the Elim area last week.

The project was a joint undertaking by Eyes For The World (EFTW), Agora Club Louis Trichardt, Agora Club Lokeren (Belgium), the provincial department of education, headmasters, educators and learners.

Koen van Pottelbergh from Belgium and his team from EFTW visited schools in the Elim area last week, as reported upon in the Zoutpansberger, with only one goal – to help improve people's eyesight.

“The sincere appreciation from headmasters, educators and, above all, the learners who received spectacles, was both overwhelming and heart-warming,” said Sandy van Niekerk of Louis Trichardt, member of Agora Louis Trichardt and Agora Club International.

A total of 1068 children from Musangulo and Elim Primary, as well as Ozias Davhana High School, had their eyes tested. Of these, 60 learners received spectacles and 14 were identified for specialist treatment. “Thank you Sanri du Plessis from Specsavers [Louis Trichardt] who has kindly undertaken to assist the children who need treatment for astigmatism. She has also volunteered to stand in as our on-site optician when we visit more schools to distribute the remainder of the spectacles,” said Van Niekerk.

This valuable project is far from over. Apart from the 14 children identified for specialised eye care, others with chronic eye infections will require further treatment and, said Van Niekerk, they still need to undertake a project to identify more people in need of the unique self-adjusting Focusspecs. This project will not only include children, but also the aged where there is a need for cataract treatment.

“Agora Louis Trichardt are committed to the Eyes For The World project. In conjunction with the Department of Education, the children who have received spectacles and specialist eye care will be carefully monitored. Our vision is to reach out to more schools in the rural areas and identify those children who require spectacles and specialist eye care. Good vision is vital to a child’s education,” said Van Niekerk.

Van Niekerk thanked all who attended the EFTW information evening in Louis Trichardt last week. “The ladies of Agora were very proud to have facilitated the Eyes For The World programme and trust that you were impressed with what they have achieved so far. To those who already made valuable contributions and donations of time, money and services, we say a very sincere thank you! We guarantee all funds will be used effectively,” said Van Niekerk. A big thank you also went to the sponsors of the information evening, namely Oasis Water, DinnerMates, Mountain Inn, Elim Spar and Specsavers.

To ensure the ongoing success of this project, donations in kind or money will be most welcome. Should anyone wish to make a contribution, they can contact Van Niekerk (EFTW project convener) at [email protected] or 082 897 3947, or Angela Brennan (president Agora Club Louis Trichardt) at [email protected] or 082 902 6271.

Date:23 April 2015

By: Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.

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