Eye Campaign in Peru

By Debbie Steele

8th November 2011

The Four of us visited Peru for 3 weeks back in August/September. Whilst there we completed the 4 day Inca trail and survived the jungle. But we also spent 2 full very busy days putting our optical skills to use testing eyes and providing glasses.

 These glasses and a significant amount of money were kindly donated from local communities in our home village of Haworth, which is twinned with Machu Picchu. Without these kind donations our campaign would not have been possible.

On the first day of testing we visited the small community of Patacancha, where we tested the weaving women’s community. Nobody in the village owned any glasses or had even had an eye test, although this was certainly not because they didn't need them. The experience was very rewarding and the people we helped were extremely grateful, as well as a little shocked at how much difference a pair of glasses can make.

That same afternoon we travelled back to Ollantaytambo and tested the members of the local knitting group. Again we were met with very grateful responses.

On day two we began in Ollantayatmbo then travelled to the Arco Iris school where we focused the day on testing these children. They were a delightful group of people, who kept us highly entertained throughout our day.

Over 2 days we performed 63 eye examinations and provided 35 pairs of glasses. We have also just posted spectacles over to 3 children that we found to need glasses but didn't have any suitable.

We transported hundreds of pairs of glasses to Peru with us, many of which remain there for future campaigns.

Although our campaign was short we certainly feel it was a huge success, and we hope the people we met feel the same. A huge thank you to Leander and Julia from MySmallHelp for making this all possible.

Ian Barron, Debbie Steel, Gregorio, Jenny Steel, Antonio Capozio