Vision Aid Overseas’ 2018 Christmas Appeal to Support Child Eye Care

All donations raised between the 27th November – 5th December will be doubled by Vision Aid Overseas’ pledgers

This Christmas, Vision Aid Overseas is calling on all their supporters to help them raise £50,000 towards providing school-based eye health services for over 180,000 children and teachers in Ethiopia, Zambia and Sierra Leone. Vision Aid Overseas’ ambassador, Fiona Bruce, is supporting the appeal and said;

“If a child cannot see clearly, their world and opportunities are limited. I have seen first-hand the incredible work of Vision Aid Overseas and the difference glasses can make to a child’s life and education. Unfortunately, for many children across the world, glasses are simply inaccessible and as a result, they cannot learn effectively in school. Girls are particularly vulnerable, as they are more likely to drop out of formal education if poor eyesight means that they underperform in school. By simply enabling the provision of eye tests and glasses in schools, we can help thousands of children to take full advantage of all the opportunities that education can provide and ensure no child is left behind in school. Please help Vision Aid Overseas make double the difference this Christmas.”

 

How will your donations be doubled?

This year, thanks to Vision Aid Overseas’ amazing supporters, every donation raised up to the first £25,000 will be doubled. Every £1 donated between the 27th November – 5th December 2018 will become £2, every £50 will become £100 and so on! Gift Aid can add even more!

How will your donations help?

Your donation will enable Vision Aid Overseas to train school teachers to effectively screen all the children in their communities and identify those that need further examination. A local mobile health team will then visit the school to provide full eye examinations, treatments like eye drops or glasses, or referral for those children (and teachers) who need more specialised care. Vision Aid Overseas will also work with parents and the local community to include children not currently in school and to raise awareness in the community about the importance of good eye health and the need for children with visual impairment to wear glasses.

By providing improving access to eye care services, Vision Aid Overseas will;

  • Improve children’s life chances as clear vision will help them to learn more effectively
  • Reduce school dropout, particularly amongst girls
  • Reduce the stigma around eye health and wearing glasses
  • Encourage in-country national Government Ministries to include eye health education and screenings into national school curricula and school health programmes

If you would like to make double the difference this Christmas and help thousands more children to see clearly so that they can fulfil their potential in school, please donate today. You can donate online at www.visionaidoverseas.org/christmas-appeal-2018