Note: Gift of Sight is a collaborative initiative made possible through the generosity of Vision Space Optometrist and Malaysian Hoya Lens.
A student from our Pusat Bimbingan Pelajar (PBP) program came to the session one day and told her mentor that she was suffering from headaches. After asking her a few questions, the mentor found out that her pair of spectacles was from a few years back and the headaches were probably due to poor vision. Despite knowing her need, her parents couldn't do anything to help their daughter because they had no money to buy her a new pair.
Her parents couldn't do anything to help their daughter because they had no money to buy her a new pair.
We realise how simple things like poor vision can affect a child's well-being and quality of life. Not being able to see clearly stops children from learning, from concentrating in class and from our on-ground experience, it often leads to lack of motivation, bad behaviour and poor results in school. Children from poor families are the ones with the odds stacked against them in their access to education, although ironically, they need it the most.
So one of the things we knew we wanted to help children with was giving them vision checks. By helping to ensure that they can actually see what is taught in class, they would do better in school and have increased access to quality education.
We have the privilege of partnering with Vision Space Optometrist this year to provide 400 children from low-income families, the 'gift of sight'. Each child receives a free professional vision check, a pair of donated spectacle frames fitted with brand new prescribed lenses sponsored by Hoya.
If we can't bring the children to the shop for the checks, let's bring the checks to them instead.
Kicking off this initiative 2 weeks ago, the amazing Vision Space optometrist team followed us into schools to do the vision checks. The owner, Mr. Woon said: "If we can't bring the children to the shop for the checks, let's bring the checks to them instead." And he even went on ground to do the checks himself! That's the level of commitment they have for this cause, which inspires not just us, but also the counsellors in schools who see the needs of these children.
If you're inspired and want to be part of this initiative, you can!
You can gift a child in need with sight by giving away your pre-loved (but still in good condition) spectacle frames. Vision Space Optometrist will fit each spectacle frame with brand-new prescribed Hoya lenses to custom fit the need of each child, free of charge.
All you have to do is drop off your frames at Generasi Gemilang's office or Vision Space Optometrist outlets below:
Vision Space Optometrist SS2 10, Jalan SS2/75, Petaling Jaya Tel: 03-78737399
Vision Space Damansara Uptown 114G, Jalan SS21/35, Damansara Uptown Tel: 03-77367899
Vision Space Optometrist Sunway Giza B-15-G Sunway Giza, Kota Damansara Tel: 03- 61502555
For more information feel free to contact us at info@gengemilang.org.
Your simple gesture of kindness will give children in need across the Klang Valley new vision & a hope for a better future.