Vision for a Nation Foundation launches first ever in-house Christmas appeal

Award-winning UK charity, Vision for a Nation Foundation (VFAN), is aiming to raise £50,000 with its first ever in-house Christmas appeal.

The money raised will go towards the charity’s primary eye care programme in Ghana, where it will be resuming its school screening when education facilities reopen in the new year. Schools in the country are currently closed due to COVID-19.

All donations up to £50,000 that are made through the Vision for a Nation Foundation site up until 31 December will be doubled by two key VFAN supporters.

The charity usually relies on external platforms to raise additional funding over the Christmas period, but this year has enabled its website to house its first internal campaign. The appeal can be seen here.

VFAN is a member of IAPB (The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness), an international alliance of over 100 eye care providers that work together to promote eye health and reduce blindness.

Group of VFAN trained nurses about to commence a school screening in Ghana, 2019

VFAN’s previous projects have included supporting Rwanda’s Ministry of Health to build an affordable nationwide eye care service, which is now fully integrated into the public health system and locally available to the nation’s 10.5 million people.

Recently, it has worked with the Ghana Health Service to make sure primary eye care services are accessible in health centres and schools in the upper eastern and central regions of the country.

Tony Hulton, VFAN’s chief executive, said: “By establishing a way for our donors to donate to us directly through our website, we´re looking forward to starting the new year off strongly with additional funding to reach more children and teachers with essential eye health services through our nurse-led school screening and referral programme.”

To help spread the word about the Christmas appeal, the charity has also teamed up with their corporate partner, eye wear company bloobloom, to give three donors a free pair of designer glasses. All donors will automatically be entered into the prize draw.