Building an opticians in rural Malawi

Aug 2017
Raised
Members

OneDollarGlasses

Charity Partner
150 million people worldwide need glasses but can’t afford them. Children struggle at school and adults cannot work. The estimated loss of income for these people comes to £90 billion a year. Our 1% will fund a Good Vision Store, a rural opticians in Southern Malawi which will offer eye tests and the opportunity to buy a reasonably priced pair of glasses to the community for the first time. The people of Phalombe can’t spare the money to travel to the nearest city to buy a pair of glasses. At the Good Vision Store anyone can have a free eye exam and any glasses needed can be built on the spot for the cost of 2-3 days wages. One Dollar Glasses are attractive, virtually indestructible and can be made to spec within a matter of minutes. Materials to make a pair cost less than $1 and consist of a steel wire frame which is bent into shape with prefabricated lenses clipped in. All profits will be channeled back into the organisation so they can continue to improve income and education opportunities for those who rely on glasses.

Over 700 million people worldwide need a pair of glasses but can't afford them. These people - many of whom live on a dollar a day or less - don't have the money to spare. The estimated loss of income caused by this fact is valued at about $200 billion per year. Adults cannot work to provide the basic needs of their families and students are unable to learn at school due to their weak eyesight. The solution? OneDollarGlasses. The materials needed to make a pair cost less than $1 and the glasses themselves consist of a lightweight, flexible spring steel frame with prefab lenses which and can be manufactured anywhere using a simple bending machine. To bring affordable glasses to communities OneDollarGlasses depend on donations. New bending machines have to be bought, components for glasses must be pre-financed and on-site training organised to develop a sustainable social enterprise.

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