Restoring Vision
For every pair of sunglasses sold, Pala give back to eye-care programmes across Africa. This is achieved through Pala providing grants directly to vision centres, dispensaries and screening and training programmes through our charity partner Vision Action.
To date more than 11,000 sight-impaired people have had their lives positively changed thanks to receiving a pair of prescription glasses or corrective surgery.
Sadly, 10% of the world’s population are unable to access the eye-care they need and yet, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), restoring sight is one of the most cost-effective health interventions to reduce poverty. It enables reading, learning, access to better education and improved overall job prospects.
“90% of those with vision loss live in low- and middle-income countries, and women and girls experience 55% of all vision loss.”
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)
Pala works with Vision Action across four countries – Zambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. We are fully aligned with their mission to ensure that everyone, regardless of their gender, economic status and geographical location, has access to affordable eye care services and glasses.
Telling the story of impact and change you are helping to create is an essential part of our work. When we have the opportunity to visit eyecare projects, we’ll always bring back the message of hope that you are providing. In the video below, we meet hear from beneficiaries of spectacles from an outreach project Pala visited in Luwingu, Zambia.
Projects our grants have supported include refurbishing a new Vision Centre in Chinsali, Zambia; purchasing additional hi-tech equipment; funding a school screening outreach project for more than 350 children and staff at Abalo Janko Primary School in East Wollega, Ethiopia… and a new project is shortly to be announced for 2022. Refurbishing, purchasing and supporting outreach programmes are all sustainable, long term solutions to the problems being faced.
“Spectacles are more than a simple convenience; they are a powerful economic tool. It is why we are passionate about providing quality eyecare to those in need. ”
John Pritchard, Founder, Pala
To understand the power and importance of your eyes, we’ve created this short fun video. It’ll put your eyes through a speed reading test as well as provide you some amazing facts… if you can read them quickly enough of course! You can’t underestimate those little peepers in the top of your head.
