What a difference a donation makes

Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) has reported that the funds raised during Christmas appeal last year have been used to successfully re-equip its Connaught Vision Centre in Freetown, Sierra Leone with urgently needed optical equipment.

The Vision Centre was struggling to provide eye care to the thousands of patients it sees every year, due to broken and outworn optical equipment VAO explained.

The 2016 Christmas appeal exceeded the £13,365 that was required, raising a total of £25,000 for the project. 

The equipment was purchased and installed at the Vision Centre in September with the help of volunteers Phil Gascoigne and Helen Short.

Speaking about the installation, Mr Gascoigne said: “During our week in Sierra Leone, we were able to support the staff with the installation of the equipment and with the on-going training of Kadie and Rebecca, who work as dispensers and technicians at the Vision Centre. All of the staff at the Vision Centre were delighted with the new equipment as it means they can continue to provide affordable spectacles to the people of Freetown.”

The Vision Centre will now continue to provide eye tests and glasses to over 12,000 patients each year.

VAO has confirmed that this year it has been selected to take part in online match funding initiative, the Big Give Christmas Challenge. As part of the campaign, donations made online to VAO between 28 November and 5 December will be doubled. 

The donations raised will help the charity on its drive to raise the £75,000 needed to continue its work in Sierra Leone.

For more details, visit VAO’s website.