06 April 2019
Orbis UK has launched a new appeal that aims to highlight the importance that eye care can make to children’s education around the world.
The See My Future appeal, which was officially launched last month has received UK Aid Match funding, meaning that donations made over the next three months will be doubled up to the value of £2m by the Government until 23 June.
The appeal aims to raise £850,000, which the charity will use to support the expansion of its project in Nepal that screens and treats children with sight loss in order to help them return to school.
An event to mark the launch of the appeal was attended by the HRH The Countess of Wessex, Sophie Wessex, who is a global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and a supporter of Orbis.
The Countess has first-hand experience of the work that Orbis does, having visited the charity’s Flying Eye Hospital programmes in Kolkata in 2013 and Bangladesh in 2017.
Speaking about the appeal, CEO of Orbis UK, Rebecca Cronin, highlighted: “With a simple eye exam and a pair of glasses, a child’s life can be transformed. Clear sight opens up a future of possibilities – children can return to school, play with their friends and contribute to society, breaking the cycle of poverty.
“With the UK Government’s Aid Match scheme, our See My Future appeal really will have twice the impact – just £5.50 doubled to £11 could provide two new pairs of glasses for children struggling to see in school.”
International development secretary, Penny Mordaunt, added: “Access to proper eye care can be life changing for Nepalese school children. By giving them basic eye care, the UK Aid-backed See My Future appeal will help give a future to more than 300,000 children across Nepal.
Orbis UK’s See My Future appeal runs from 25 March to 23 June. For more information and to make a donation, visit the Orbis website.
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