Glasses for the world: Vallendar Lions help those in need!

Glasses for the world: Vallendar Lions help those in need!

Glasses play a crucial role for people with low vision, particularly in developing countries where they are often unaffordable. This problem is addressed Campus Lions Club Vallendar WHU who recently launched a successful fundraising campaign. A total of around 350 old glasses were collected, which will now benefit needy people around the world.

Collection boxes were available to collect the glasses and were placed at the WHU reception and in the Sparkasse Vallendar. The club's president, Heike Hülpüsch, emphasizes the value of commitment and the positive feedback from the community. After the campaign was completed, the collected glasses were handed over to Carlo Wagner, the head of the “Glasses Worldwide” aid project.

Distribution of glasses

The glasses are prepared by Wagner and his team and sent to non-profit organizations. These organizations are responsible for distributing the glasses to those in need in clinics and mission stations. This process not only creates positive effects for the recipients abroad, but also new employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed in Germany, which at the same time reduces waste.

The initiative is part of a broader approach taken by the organization Glasses worldwide is supported. This works closely with the development service of German opticians ( GLASSES-without-LIMITS ) together to effectively help those in need. Within this framework, the so-called “three-pillar strategy” is pursued, which includes direct help, help for self-help and financing through non-profit projects.

Sustainability and support

This strategy covers 10 of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which include essential issues such as health, quality education and gender equality. The support also includes equipping EDA optician workshops in poor countries with refraction devices and other necessary tools.

A concrete example of helping people to help themselves is the expertise of Reinhard Müller, the first chairman of the EDA, who set up optician workshops in Uganda in February 2020. Another successful project was sending a “reading glasses package” to Manila, which not only contained 335 reading glasses, but also clothing and food.

The collaboration between the two organizations aims not only to provide immediate care, but also to train local technicians so that they are able to help their own communities.

In addition, Claudia Büdel, a member of the EDA, has developed an “eye optics phrasebook” that translates technical terms into several languages. This enables improved communication and training in the respective regions.

Those interested have the opportunity to support the valuable work of these organizations through donations that flow directly into the projects. These initiatives help improve people's quality of life while creating sustainable solutions.