During the month of November 2018, a pilot project was implemented to equip the FUNDESO clinic in Quezaltepeque, using donations received from Germany throughout the year 2018. Capacity training was provided to staff in the clinic of Quetzaltepeque and 4 visual campaigns were carried out in the surrounding area. Visual campaigns involved the delivery of prescription glasses to those in need, and as a result, 98 patients were treated.
The Ojitos Felices, or ‘Happy Eyes’ project targets school children whose visual defects may be cured by obtaining prescription glasses. The project aims to improve overall access to prescription glasses and is divided into three stages outlined below:
The Ojitos Felices project consists of 3 stages:
1. Optical equipment donation
2. Training and qualification
3. Visual campaigns
The aim is to not only to provide prescription glasses but also to improve access to optical health services at an affordable price. Thus, in the first phase we source optical equipment as well as prescription glasses for donation, and in the second phase provide staff training. The final phase involves carrying out visual campaigns near the newly established optical health clinic targeting the wider population.
In Germany, we collected optical equipment and other machines related to visual defects, as well as prescription glasses and frames. These are collected from all over the country. When enough donations have been collected to fill a container, they are then transported via cargo ship from Germany to El Salvador.
When the donations arrive in El Salvador, the machines are serviced to ensure they have not been damaged during transport, and all glasses and frames are itemized into a digital database for easy storage and access. Once this is complete, training is provided for the new clinic’s staff and all of those involved in the project and handling the donated items in order to ensure that the donated equipment is adequately used. In November 2018, we worked with the German government who with the help of Senior Expert Service (SES) were able to enlist the services of a German expert who oversaw the training, the handling of the optical equipment and the visual campaigns.
After training is provided and machinery is installed in the new clinics, the project turns to its final phase: the visual campaigns. These campaigns involve opening up the clinics to the public as well as visiting schools and community centers to provide optical health services. It is during such campaigns that patients are examined in order to determine any type of visual problem they might have and which we can help with.
In 2019, we will expand the Ojitos Felicesproject to the schools of Quezaltepeque. This expansion is in line with and will support and complement the Mira Bien, or ‘See Well’, project from FUNDESO which has been worked successfully at different schools in San Salvador and La Libertad.
In light of the needs of the Salvadoran optic health sector, donations of optic equipment and lenses were sought and collected in Germany.
The donations include both new and used lenses as well as frames. All of the donations received, lenses, equipment and other accessories, undergo a quality control inspection when they are received.
The lenses are graded and classified, then packaged and sent to El Salvador via cargo shipment, where they are then distributed to existing local charities providing social and humanitarian support to the Salvadoran population.
A formal partnership has been formed with FUNDESO (Fundación de Desarrollo Social) as well as other organizations in El Salvador and socially responsible projects are being developed in conjunction as a result of these partnerships.
We are open to collaboration with other legally registered institutions and organizations with a socially conscious vision and a transparent strategy for the management of funds.