In poor communities, clear vision is often a luxury rather than a given.
Children who have vision problems face daily challenges such as headaches, squinting or blurred vision, which hinder their academic progress. But in Citrusdal things are looking up, thanks to the proactive efforts of Mouton Citrus and Agrimark.
During a business meeting, Mouton Citrus, a valued client in the Citrusdal district, shared the details of their eye care project with the Agrimark team. A nurse at the local clinic had completed preliminary tests and had found many of the farmworkers’ children had poor eyesight and might need corrective eyewear. Recognising the financial difficulties these families face, Agrimark decided to take action by seeking support from optometrists.
“We take a holistic approach when discussing Agrimark’s product offering with farming businesses, actively listening for ways to add value or contribute to community projects,” explains Johan de Lange, Division Executive: Services & Relations of Agrimark Operations. “The Mouton Citrus Foundation runs several initiatives to support their employees, including sports facilities, educational support, and clinic services. With education being the primary focus of our corporate social investment initiatives, the eyecare project caught our attention. We were determined to help by facilitating the necessary arrangements to make a positive difference in the learners’ lives.”
Lerina Nel, from the Agrimark Operations office in Porterville, searched for eye care specialists to partner with. VDM Optometrists in Paarl generously agreed to conduct the eye exams. Out of the 13 children examined, 11 required glasses. VDM also donated all 11 prescription glasses!
Agrimark handed over the prescription eyewear at a small event at the Citrusdal Community Hall. There were smiles all around as each boy and girl received their brand-new pair of glasses which now offered them clear vision.
One touching moment captured the sentiment of the event, when a woman remarked to her little boy that he now had glasses “just like grandma”, sparking a heartwarming generational connection.
“Agrimark has deep roots in the community, and we want to leave people better off because of our existence,” says Lerina. “We are grateful for partners such as VDM Optometrists who share the same approach to community development. I have no doubt lives have been changed with these glasses. No longer burdened by the daily struggle to see, these children can fully engage in their education and pursue their activities with newfound confidence.”