OneSight.org » North America » Get Inspired » OneSight Blogs » Current Blogs » South Africa Clinic Blog
Clinic Blog: South Africa Clinic Blog
September 6, 2010
Volunteers Preparing for Unique Clinic in South Africa
By twannamaker
Hey OneSight Fans!
Thanks for checking out our blog—it will be your ticket to virtual participation in our upcoming OneSight Clinic to Mamelodi, South Africa! Our team of volunteers and doctors from South Africa, Australia, France, Brazil, Canada and the U.S. will spend two weeks just outside of Pretoria providing complete eye exams and eyewear to thousands of adults and children who could not otherwise afford to see the world clearly. We will be partnering with Engage Mamelodi to establish a sustainable vision care program in the area. We arrive on September 19 and will be posting daily updates until October 2, so stay tuned for highlights and photos from our clinic!
We are especially excited about Oakley’s sponsorship of this clinic as a part of their partnership with OneSight to help organization improve access to vision care and eyewear for the 314 million in need. As a part of their sponsorship, Oakley will be hosting a group of their athletes on September 23 and 24 to participate in the clinic, serve the community and become ambassadors for the cause. Additionally, Oakley supports OneSight with product donations, monetary support and employee volunteers. We look forward to their contributions and the awareness that they will bring to OneSight’s important mission. We will include all of our special guests and partners in the subsequent posts.
In case you are not very familiar—OneSight, Luxottica's charitable organization, is a family of programs dedicated to improving vision for those in need. Since 1988, OneSight volunteers have hand-delivered primary vision care and optical sun protection to more than seven million people around the world. The OneSight Research Foundation has also granted millions of dollars in optical research and education.
Clinics are staffed with approximately 35 team members made up of opticians, licensed doctors and eyewear industry professionals who provide free eye exams and new/refurbished eyewear to people in need of vision care around the world. Each two-week Clinic serves approximately 10,000 – 15,000 people and requires approximately 40,000 pairs of eyewear to accommodate prescription needs. Donated eyewear is cleaned, repaired, classified by prescription and catalogued into a computer system prior to being sent on a Clinic. Additional newly manufactured eyewear is provided to meet a range of prescription needs.
Through 2009, OneSight has conducted more than 175 Clinics, improving the eyesight and lives of more than three million individuals in 35 developing countries. There are a total of 15 Global Clinics planned for 2010. For a complete list of Clinic locations, visit www.onesight.org.
Stay tuned for the adventure…we are excited to bring you along!
--The OneSight South Africa Team
About the Clinic
South Africa Clinic Blog Clinic
Our team of 40 volunteers and doctors from around the world will spend two weeks in South Africa providing free eye care and eyewear to thousands of people who could not otherwise afford to see the world clearly.