Our Glasses for Classes programme has now helped 5,000 children stay in school.
This month marked a major milestone for our Glasses for Classes programme: we’ve delivered 5,000 pairs of glasses to children across Uganda.
That means 5,000 children can now clearly see their books and writing, take their exams with confidence, and stay in school.
Eye Tests for Children in Wakiso District
In November, the Glasses for Classes team visited four primary schools in Uganda’s Wakiso District:
- Building Tomorrow Primary School
- Kyampisi Primary School
- Namayumba Primary School
- St Mathias Bananywa Primary School
Together, the schools welcomed eye tests to check eye health for 800 children.
Students struggling with their vision first completed a basic eyesight assessment. For many children this will have been their very first eye test.
Children who could not read the eye chart were then examined by ophthalmologist Dr Irene Nansambuga.
Each eye test takes around 15–20 minutes, and with hundreds of students to screen, the days are long and demanding.
We have a minimum prescription to make sure glasses are provided to students that really need them. The screenings identified 267 children in need of glasses.
Delivery Day
Once the prescriptions are recorded, the details are sent to retired optician Will Luff, who makes the glasses free of charge.
Will generously donates around 200 hours of his time each year, using frames donated by opticians in the UK. Once completed, the glasses are shipped to Uganda and distributed to the schools.
Students proudly wearing their glasses at Namayumba Primary School.
About 60% of the children we help are long-sighted (+ prescription) 30% are short sighted and approximately 10% have astigmatism where they have an irregular shaped cornea or lens – a common eye condition that causes blurry or distorted vision.
Children from Building Tomorrow Primary School.
Our eye tests have discovered not just whether children are short or long sighted, but have also diagnosed glaucoma and trachoma.
Glasses being put to use at St Mathias Bananywa Primary School.
Helping Children Achieve Their Ambitions
The children in our Glasses for Classes programme have big dreams. They want to become teachers, doctors, engineers and accountants.
A simple pair of glasses can make the difference between falling behind and fulfilling those ambitions.
When children can clearly see the board, read their books, and complete their schoolwork, they have a far better chance of succeeding in school and building a brighter future.
Students at Kyampisi Primary School.
Help a Child See Clearly.
A complete pair of glasses including eye tests, lenses, frames and delivery costs £25.
For many children, that amount means the chance to see clearly, stay in school and succeed.
To buy a pair of glasses please click here: https://www.humanitydirect.org/universal-fund/
Host a Glasses for Classes Fundraiser
We’re also encouraging schools to support Glasses for Classes by hosting a creative fundraising day.
Children decorate a pair of glasses as creatively as they can in exchange for a £2 donation.
Together with the wonderful teachers and students at Little Chalfont Primary School, we’ve created a full set of fundraising resources, including:
- printable templates
- classroom presentations
- certificates
- activity ideas
Find out more here: https://shorturl.at/BMvID