Eye Need View – Humanitarian Eye Screening Mission in Kenya
Julie Bay, a first-year orthoptics student, will be heading to Kenya on a humanitarian mission from October 30 to November 14, 2021. The goal of this mission is to provide free vision screenings for children in schools in Taïta.
A project by the Eye Need View association
Eye Need View is a nonprofit organization established in 2014 by three orthoptists. Its mission is to organize vision screening, refraction, and training initiatives in the field of eye health in developing countries.
For the first time, Eye Need View is calling on visual health students to help carry out its next humanitarian mission in Kenya. Five students from the fourteen orthoptics departments across France are participating in this project.
The School of Medicine, represented by Julie Bay
And this year, a first-year orthoptics student at the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine was selected for this assignment. She was chosen after submitting her resume and cover letter, and she will represent the Faculty and the University of Montpellier throughout the assignment. We had the opportunity to meet her:
Hi Julie, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Julie Bay, I’m 29 years old, and I’m originally from Réunion Island. After earning my associate’s degree in optometry and gaining several years of professional experience in the field, I decided to switch careers and become an orthoptist. I am currently a student at the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine.
How did you hear about the Eye Need View project?
With a strong interest in the field of vision health and humanitarian work, I regularly kept up with the latest news on these topics. One day, I saw the call for proposals from the FFEO (French Federation of Orthoptic Students) regarding the Eye Need View mission, and I decided to apply because the project perfectly matched my expectations.
Why did you want to take part in this humanitarian mission?
First of all, humanitarian work has always appealed to me; I’ve always been committed to using my skills to help others. The people around me have always encouraged me to get involved in charitable causes. Even back in Réunion, I was part of an organization with my family that helped disadvantaged people. What’s great about this project is that it allows me to combine my work with my desire to help others. I’ve already carried out humanitarian screening missions in Paris with Vision For Life for disadvantaged people. This helps me grow both personally and professionally.
People aren’t always aware of this, but 10% of children have a vision problem by age 6 and aren’t receiving treatment. Vision problems have a significant impact on children, particularly when it comes to learning. That’s why this mission is so important to me.
How did you fund your humanitarian mission?
The cost of the trip is estimated at €9,000 for all participating students. We received €6,000 in support from our partners. I also received funding from the University of Montpellier’s Fund for Solidarity and Development of Student Initiatives (FSDIE), which aims to support students with projects in various fields.
Finally, we will set up an online fundraiser to raise the remaining funds needed.
The course of the mission
The goal during the two-week mission is to screen 2,500 children in schools in the village of Taïta, in southern Kenya. To make this possible, the mission is divided into several stages:
Support Julie's project
The Eye Need View organization and the students participating in this humanitarian project are committed to making this mission a success. You can support them in two different ways:
- Donate eyeglasses: Collection boxes are available on the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus to collect children’s eyeglasses.
- By making a financial donation: You can make a donation to help fund this humanitarian mission by clicking this button.
