In a heartwarming demonstration of what community collaboration can achieve, the Lions Club of Tokai, in partnership with Vision Works Optometrists, has been changing the lives, and vision, of learners at Westlake Primary School since March last year.
Through the Lions BrightSight initiative 70 learners have already received professional eye tests, with 65 of them fitted with much-needed spectacles, all at no cost to the school or parents. The remaining five were treated with eye drops.
This life-changing programme is more than just an act of charity. It’s an ongoing commitment to the Lions International core pillar of Vision, a global drive to fight preventable blindness and improve access to eye care.
“This partnership is doing far more than just improving eyesight,” said Tracey Petersen-Brown, principal of Westlake Primary School. “It is restoring confidence, transforming learning experiences and changing lives. With clearer vision our learners can read more easily, engage more confidently in class, and feel a renewed sense of pride and possibility.”
Every week, after school, small groups of learners are transported to Vision Works, where they undergo thorough eye testing, many for the first time in their lives.
Lions Club volunteers handle appointment scheduling and transport, while Vision Works staff provide care with professionalism and compassion. Mark Roussouw, a long-time advocate for child development in the Western Cape, praised the initiative:
“When learners can’t see clearly, they often fall behind, not through lack of effort, but lack of access. The Tokai Lions and Vision Works are not just giving spectacles; they’re giving these children a fighting chance at success.”
Lions BrightSight, launched in 1978, supports communities across South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini.
Using both new and pre-owned frames in excellent condition, each pair of spectacles is custom-fitted with new prescription lenses.
As the Tokai Lions Club eyes five more placements by the end of the year, this project stands as a testament to the power of local partnerships in delivering a global impact.
