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Eye Need View – Humanitarian Eye Screening Mission in Kenya

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Julie Bay, a first-year orthoptics student, will be leaving for a humanitarian mission in Kenya 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 under the French Law of 1901. 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 carry out its next humanitarian mission in Kenya. Five students from the fourteen orthoptics departments across France are participating in this project.

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The School of Medicine, represented by Julie Bay

And this year, a first-year orthoptics student at the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine was selected for this assignment. She was recruited after submitting her resume and cover letter, and she will represent the School and the University of Montpellier throughout this assignment. We had the opportunity to meet her:

Hi Julie, can 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 BTS in Optometry and gaining several years of professional experience in that field, I decided to change 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?

As I have 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 Orthoptics Students) regarding the Eye Need View mission, and I decided to apply because this 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—along with my family—that helped underprivileged 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 underprivileged people. This helps me grow both personally and professionally.

People don’t always realize this, but 10% of children have a vision problem by age 6 and are not 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 finance 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 Solidarity and Student Initiative Development Fund (FSDIE), which aims to support students with projects in various fields.

Finally, we're going to set up an online fundraiser to raise the remaining funds we need.

The Mission Timeline

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:

  • The Glasses Drive

    The first step of the mission is to collect as many pairs of children’s glasses as possible. The goal is to collect at least 500 pairs before the mission begins, so that a wide range of prescription options will be available on site.

  • Sorting Eyeglasses

    Once all the glasses have been collected, the students will need to clean, sort, and label them so that distribution during the mission is as simple and quick as possible.

  • Departure for the mission

    After these two crucial steps, the students will finally fly from Paris to Nairobi, Kenya.

    For two weeks, they will travel throughout the village of Taïta to visit children in schools and conduct vision screenings. Children who need corrective eyewear will be provided with glasses immediately.

  • Return to France

    After their mission, the students will return to France to attend the FFEO conference in Paris and present the results of this initiative. In this way, they hope to raise the profile of their respective faculties and inspire other students to participate in humanitarian missions.

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:

  • Through the eyeglass donation drive: Collection boxes are available on the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus to collect children’s eyeglasses.
  • Through a financial donation: You can make a donation to help fund this humanitarian mission by clicking this button.
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