The College of Optometrists

On a recent project to Ethiopia a group of Vision Aid Overseas volunteers did more than just provide spectacles to the local population - they also managed to donate an entire football strip! The lucky recipients were members of Butajira Ladies football club, a local team near to the VAO clinic at the Grarbet Ledekuman hospital in Butajira.

 

The strips were donated by Liverpool FC to VAO volunteer Stewart Wilson - who was on the project to Ethiopia. They had originally been passed to him as an auction lot for a sportsman's ball he had organised in August - but he immediately spotted their potential as a gift to a local team in Ethiopia. "When I saw the strips I thought wouldn't it be great if we could get these to a team," says Stewart. "Football is extremely popular in Ethiopia but many small teams struggle to get any sort of uniform to play in which makes it difficult to play serious games."

 

Team leader Anne Hull explains that the team was delighted to pass on the strips. "The girls were so happy with the donation and looked stunning posing in them. This is part of the magic of Vision Aid Overseas. On our projects we get one on one time with real people who live in some of the poorest parts of the world - and we get to change their lives by bringing them spectacles . When we are there we can also do so much more to help! It is amazing how difficult it might be to get a set of clothes, like this, to a location in Africa; but VAO volunteers can make sure that it happens and see the results! An amazing experience and further proof of the magic of VAO!"

 

Vision Aid Overseas runs around twenty projects a year to countries all over Africa, including Ethiopia, Malawi and Burkina Faso. Its work is helping to give sight to the 200 million people worldwide who need spectacles to live an ordinary life but can't get them.

 

For further information please visit www.vao.org.uk or contact the office on 01293 535016.