EyeCare4Kids recently returned from an important trip to Africa, led by its founder, Joseph Carbone. This journey aimed to support and expand their mission of providing essential eye care to those in need on the African continent.
This trip was a defining moment for EyeCare4Kids. It was marked by discoveries, partnerships, and inspiring experiences. It reinforced the importance of vision care and the powerful impact it has on people’s lives. With a clear goal and a dedicated team, EyeCare4Kids is set to make a significant difference in Africa, one eye exam and one pair of glasses at a time.
This post is a bit of a travelog that shares the highlights of the trip and the inspiring work being done to help Africans live their best lives.
The Kalimoni Mission Hospital in Kenya
The first part of the trip was to Kenya. EyeCare4Kids has a clinic at the Kalimoni Mission Hospital, and to see how things were progressing there. There was also a plan to visit a satellite clinic. Unfortunately, due to political unrest and demonstrations in Nairobi, it was not safe to travel far from the airport. Despite these setbacks, the team made the most of their time.
Joseph and company traveled with Ken and Paula Weissman, the owners of Modern Optical International. They were wonderful hosts and arranged some relaxing activities, including a safari where the team saw the Big Five animals (i.e., the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo) and much more. The highlight was a balloon ride over the Serengeti, offering breathtaking views and a chance to appreciate the beauty of the African landscape.
New Partnerships in South Africa
Next, the team traveled to South Africa to build new relationships and expand their work. The Weissmans created Modern Optical Africa, a business that has been operating in South Africa for over a decade. They send eyeglass products to South Africa, helping many people with eye care needs.
In many African countries, there is only one eye care professional for every 1 to 5 million people. This means that people, especially in rural areas, do not have access to eye care. Most people in these areas earn very little money, making it hard to afford eye care services. EyeCare4Kids aims to help remedy this situation by assisting one million people in Africa with eye care services by the end of 2030.
Collaborating with Modern Optical Africa
Modern Optical Africa, led by partners Leon and Miguel, is essential to EyeCare4Kids’ plans in South Africa. Leon owns an eyeglass laboratory and Miguel is an expert in importing and exporting. For the past nine months, they have been working with EyeCare4Kids to prepare for this expansion.
Leon and Miguel have already started helping local children by working with a medical university’s optometry program. They have paid for travel, supplies, frames, and lenses out of their pockets. This shows their commitment and the potential for a much larger partnership that can impact a large number of Africans.
Partnering with Other Nonprofits
During the visit, EyeCare4Kids also met with other nonprofits working on similar projects. One promising idea involved secondary school students becoming “ambassadors of vision.” These students would be paid a small amount to spread the word about eye care and bring people to mobile clinics. This plan helps address the high unemployment rate in South Africa and creates a sustainable model for providing eye care.
Supporting Local Optometrists
Many optometrists in South Africa are struggling to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. Some see only a few patients a day, making it hard to sustain their practices. EyeCare4Kids proposes compensating these optometrists for their “chair time”—the time they spend seeing patients referred by student ambassadors. This way, more people can get the eye care they need, and optometrists can keep their practices running.
The goal is to start with 30 optometrists and eventually expand to 400-500 within a year. This expansion would significantly increase the number of people receiving eye care, moving closer to the goal of helping a million people.
The Importance of Vision Care
The trip to Africa showed the importance of working together to achieve EyeCare4Kids’ mission. It highlighted the need for a collective effort to address the lack of eye care services in Africa. Joseph Carbone and the EyeCare4Kids team are committed to their vision of a world where every child has access to eye care, regardless of their location or economic situation.
Vision care is crucial because it transforms lives. Children with clear vision have a better chance at success in school, which helps break the cycle of poverty. For adults, something as simple as reading glasses can open up job opportunities and improve their quality of life.
The cost of providing these services is relatively low—about $15 for a pair of glasses and $5 for an eye exam. These small investments can make a big difference. To reach the goal of helping one million people in South Africa, EyeCare4Kids needs widespread support and collaboration.
Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s legacy, Joseph and the team at EyeCare4Kids is determined to make a difference. They invite everyone to join this mission, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word. The vision is clear: a future where everyone can see and achieve their true potential.