At Humanity Direct, our Glasses for Classes program is helping transform children’s futures by providing essential eye tests and glasses. So far, over 30,000 eyes have been tested and over 4000 pairs of glasses delivered. Meet the team behind Glasses for Classes; the program would not be possible without our dedicated Glasses for Classes team: Will, Sylvia, Betty and Dr Irene.
Will: The inspiration behind Glasses for Classes
After taking part in one of our XNRG fundraisers, Will approached us and explained he was coming up to retirement but still wanted to be able to help those who needed glasses, and that is where Glasses for Classes started.
Will makes up the glasses for free – including providing the lens blanks – donating 200 hours of his time a year to make up the hundreds of glasses, using frames donated by other opticians. To date, Will has made up over 2000 pairs of glasses.
Sylvia: Our Master Coordinator
Sylvia has been a key part of Humanity Direct for seven years and is integral in coordinating our eye test clinics and glasses deliveries to hundreds of schools in Uganda.
Sylvia is also the first person children meet at the eye clinics, as she has the crucial role in taking children through the initial assessment of their vision using eye charts to detect short-sightedness (myopia) or long-sightedness (hyperopia).
Sylvia told us, “Seeing children try on glasses for the first time makes me feel happy that I’m making a difference in their lives.”
Dr Irene: The Visionary Ophthalmologist
Recently joining the team, Dr Irene Nansambuga, a graduate of Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Makerere University, provides children who cannot read the eye charts with a thorough eye examination.
Drawing inspiration from her mother, a nurse, and her own experience of living with myopia, Dr Irene is dedicated to early detection and intervention“Prescribing glasses can have an immense impact and mean the difference between a child staying in school and succeeding and a child having to leave with no future,”.
On most days, Dr Nansambuga will see between 15 and 20 children at every eye test, many with treatable refractive errors and some who may require surgical care for conditions like congenital cataracts.
Dr Irene believes in building a future where affordable, accessible eye care reaches all children, preventing avoidable blindness and improving education and confidence.
Betty: Chief Problem Solver and Glasses Distributor
Betty, a dedicated volunteer and mother of five, has contributed to delivering over 4,000 pairs of glasses through the program. With a background in Commerce and Certified Public Accounts, Betty has played a crucial role in overseeing the delivery of glasses.
Betty ensures that when the glasses arrive, they’re the right ones and fit correctly.
Betty told us: “I was nervous seeing the first child wear glasses, but when they confirmed they could see clearly, I was excited to be part of changing their lives,”.
For her, each pair of glasses represents hope, helping children perform better academically and achieve lifelong success. Betty proudly notes that Humanity Direct’s impact is visible across the communities they serve.
How You Can Help: Partnering UK Schools with Uganda
In 2025, Humanity Direct aims to connect schools in the UK with those in Uganda through the Glasses for Classes program. Pupils are invited to decorate paper glasses as creatively as they can and raise funds through a £2 donation to support eye tests and glasses for children in need.
All resources for schools, including lesson plans, templates, parent letters, and participation certificates, are available on the school’s resources page. If your school would like to partner with us to make a real difference in children’s lives, please get in touch at hello@humanitydirect.org.