glasses for Africa

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VISUAL DOCUMENTATION: Joachim Ladefoged

SOURCE: KISS MY BLACK ADS

I have mentioned before that I work part time for at optical chain store. We always use to get people bringing in their old glasses asking whether we take old frames for charities who deal with sending old frames to underprivileged countries. Unfortunately we don’t. But I read on Kiss My Black Ads about Nyt Syn (New Visions Opticians), a Danish optical chain making a difference with their ‘Glasses for Africa’ initiative. Nyt Syn collected optical frames from more than 70, 000 people across Denmark. With 6 optometrists (opticians) and a nurse, they travelled to areas in Gambia and Senegal to perform eye tests and fit people with much needed glasses. Before working at the optometrists, I used to think optometrists basically tell everyone that they need glasses so they can get money. I realised that very quickly, a lot of people actually need glasses and the glasses can become costly depending on your condition (or if you just want to get a designer frame). I think ‘Glasses for Africa‘ is a good initiative. Other global optical initiatives include the Fred Hollows Foundation and the Focus on Vision Foundation.