Voluntary work in Ethiopia - Michele de Vaal

Following the trail of three pairs of Richard Whiteley’s glasses was part of Michele De Val’s presentation to the Club.  She was a next-door neighbour to Richard and Kathryn Apanowicz and is a volunteer for Vision Aid Overseas. This charity whose motto is “Helping the World to see” has a hope that everyone in the world has access to eye care and spectacles. It recycles unwanted glasses. Developing countries have very few optical professionals and the charity provides training for doctors and health workers to help in the examination of eyes and the dispensing of spectacles.  It aims to provide optical workshops and train local staff to manufacture and glaze spectacles.  Volunteer optical professionals set up clinics, screening patients and providing spectacles as necessary. Michele has for a number of years gone out on two or three week spells to Ethiopia and took Richard’s glasses with her on her last visit. A school teacher with only one eye received a pair, a student was given the second pair enabling her to see the blackboard in class and the third helped a tailor who had difficulty on seeing to thread his sewing machine. Sightsavers International is another charity Rotary supports that aims to help needless blindness disappear.

Members were reminded that on 23^rd. and 24^th. May the Shelter Box demonstration will be held in Leyburn Market Square.  When natural disasters are much in the news the help that Shelter Boxes can provide are vital.  They can also be seen on 21^st. and 22^nd. July at Masham Steam Rally. Club Charter and Handover night is on 27^th. June