THE SPECTACLES PROGRAMME

Most of us know that when we get to certain age, our vision deteriorates particularly when our eyes used constantly for some repetitive activities which resulted in tired and strained eyes. We often struggle to see what we want to see, and this frustrates us. For some lucky people like us, the solution is easy, we buy reading glasses and just get on with life.

However, for thousands of senior workers in developing countries, they may never find solution to their problems. A large number of these senior workers come from very unprivileged background and don’t have the luxury to stop working when they get to their retirement age and for most the word “retire” does not exist in their lives.  They may find it extremely hard to work with vision impairment, but life goes on, they will continue to work, straining and screwing up their eyes, until they no longer able to use them properly when working.

In 2012, we started looking at Indonesian traditional textiles’ productions closely and we were extremely alarmed by the sheer problems affecting production sustainability of these amazing textiles. Most of the artisans who made these textiles were senior women, usually from fairly poor back ground. We realised that once these senior artisans found that their eyes no longer function properly, they will give up working, particularly those who work in the weaving industry. We also realised that young people don’t show the desire to continue this type of work, as weaving is perceived to be menial work and only to be done by uneducated poor people living in remote villages. Whilst the struggle continues, we came up with some solution to help experience weavers to remain working by donating reading glasses to help them stay in work longer and to work more efficiently.

We are fully aware of our limitation and financial capability to fund this programme, but our strong determination and desire to succeed our mission and our vison, we are proud to have achieved far beyond our expectation. So far, we have distributed thousands of reading glasses, reaching senior textiles artisans in Lombok, Sulawesi, Flores, Timor, Sumba, Lembata and Adonara, Rote & Java.

We are making a great progress and we will continue to donate glasses for as long as we can. We are very passionate about this simple life changing opportunity, and are very grateful for the support we have received from those who have donated towards this programme.

In just about any home, one can find a pair of reading glasses that are no longer being used and we believe that same pair of eyeglasses can change another person’s life. Help us to succeed this mission, please donate your unwanted glasses, or you can also donate new glasses.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to find out how to donate.

Thank you.

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