October marks Eye Care Awareness Month (ECAM), which Ster-Kinekor will honour by raising awareness across the country in conjunction with the Gauteng Department of Education, Gauteng Department of Health and Spec Savers.
This forms part of Ster-Kinekor’s continued CSI initiative, Vision Mission, which actively and continuously aims to contribute towards the elimination of refractive errors in underprivileged learners. Activities this October include Vision Mission’s participation in the TUKS Grade 12 Preparation Conference and an impressive spectacle hand over event in partnership with the Department of Health and Education.
The Grade 12 Preparation Conference is a TUKS University initiative. The main aim of the project is to identify 200 Junior Tukkie academic achievers to attend the conference in preparation for their final school year end-examinations and tertiary studies. Vision Mission will conduct eye tests and provide spectacles for learners in need. Added to this initiative, 19 October saw an uplifting event at Westgate Mall where learners from Mogale, Randfontein and Westonaria received spectacles enabling them to not only watch Ice Age 4 but enjoy the continued benefits of good eyesight. In association with the Department of Health and Education, this will honour ECAM and contribute to addressing the fact that many learners do not have easy access to treatment for eye conditions.
Vision Mission was launched in 2005 during ECAM to highlight the issue of low vision as a major public health concern in South Africa. It is currently estimated that, of the three million learners in Grade 1, 2 and 3, one tenth have eye problems which, if left uncorrected, could lead to severe vision impairment in adulthood.
Since its inception, Vision Mission has screened over 248,900 learners from previously disadvantage backgrounds across the country. We have provided spectacles to 12,000 learners. This is made possible by the extremely helpful partnerships and contributions by Spec Savers, the National Departments of Health, Education and Social Development, The Nthulisa Foundation, Lions Club, Bonteheuwel Organisation for Youth Development, AFDA (Film School of South Africa) and Pareto Limited.
“We are very grateful for the assistance by these contributors, helping us to align to the World Health Organisation’s Vision 2020 project, which aims to eradicate preventable blindness by the year 2020. We are committed to finding effective ways to secure more strategic partnerships, define other innovative ways of contributing towards eye care and to mobilise funding to grow activities for the project. We call upon anyone else who might be able to contribute to help us make a difference in many lives on a sustainable basis,’ commented Geraldine Engelman, Ster-Kinekor CSI and Project Manager.
ECAM is a very important time for Ster-Kinekor as it raises awareness that many learners may not have the privilege of efficient reading and learning, nor of being entertained as learners should be with activities such as watching movies on the big screen.
“Ster-Kinekor and Vision Mission invites all of those who can assist to be mindful of ECAM this October and beyond. For the general consumer assistance is quite simple, all you need to do is donate to the project by adding a mere R2.50 to your movie ticket at the Self Service Terminals,’ Engelman added.
