On February 29 2012, Leapfrog Property Group in conjunction with international organisation One Sight, embarked on an exciting project to collect old prescription glasses and sunglasses.
On February 29 2012, Leapfrog Property Group in conjunction with international organisation One Sight, embarked on an exciting project to collect old prescription glasses and sunglasses. Since its inception over 8 000 glasses have been collected from around the country.
Bruce Swain, MD of Leapfrog, says his wife, Gillian, heard about One Sight on Cape Talk and the concept really excited her. She told him about it and they decided to adopt the project as a company, he says.
Since its inception five months ago over 8 000 glasses have been collected from around the country.
“We are overjoyed at this donation which far exceeds our expectations,” says Odette Ninow-Cullen, One Sight Lead for South Africa.
To give you an idea of the need in South Africa, they will be hosting an international clinic with volunteers from across the world in Soweto later this year, and will be handing out an estimated 8 000 pairs of glasses in just over seven days, she says.
These glasses will change a lot of lives, says Ninow-Cullen.
Leapfrog would like to thank, in particular, the communities of Melkbosstrand, Faerie Glen, Irene Vereeniging and Vanderbjilpark for opening their hearts and taking the time to drop off their old glasses.
How One Sight works
Since its creation in 1988, One Sight, a Luxottica Foundation, has helped millions of sight impaired people around the world - from America across Africa and Asia through to Australia. The Foundation and its volunteers offer ophthalmological care to people who cannot afford it as well as providing them with recycled glasses.
All of the donated frames are cleaned and serviced before being made available to people to select their favourite, while attending the One Sight clinic sessions. These frames are then fitted with brand new, gifted prescription lenses and given to the patient.
It is at this juncture that the public’s involvement becomes so important in that One Sight can use all the old prescription glasses – ensuring that each patient receives the best possible fit. To date over 7 million glasses have been recycled.
Petra van Asch, Principal of Leapfrog Melkbosstrand, attended a One Sight clinic held at The Haven retirement home in Woodstock.
“My business partner and I embraced this project because the gift of these restored glasses is life altering and it’s been amazing to see how the entire town of Melkbosstrand, especially the children, has risen to the challenge. In fact, I’ve brought 21 more pairs with today.”
Swain says he is happy to say that the Leapfrog and the communities they work in have bought into the project as well. They were able to hand over a terrific amount of glasses to be recycled – ensuring that the people who stand to benefit can enjoy a better quality of life, says Swain.
According to Ninow-Cullen, the glasses collected nationally by Leapfrog will be redistributed to South Africans. These glasses will not be going to overseas recipients but will be used to meet the need here, she says.
They’ll be hosting clinics around the country throughout the year and ask you to please keep on donating frames as the need is great, she says.
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