A collaboration in Cromwell is bringing sight to vision impaired people in the Pacific Islands; we take a look at the volunteers behind the initiative.

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There are only three Lions Clubs in New Zealand that collect, recycle and send used eye glasses to the Pacific Islands – a collaboration in Cromwell is one of those. We take a look at the people behind this successful initiative bringing sight to vision impaired people in the Pacific.

Thirty-five years ago, a Kiwi member of Lions went to Fiji. He was an optician.

A Fijian Lions member approached him and asked if he would help his daughter, who couldn’t see.

It was the start of Lions support for the visually impaired, and New Zealand’s eyeglass recycling initiative.

However, ‘a few years ago’ the pin was pulled on the project.

Cromwell Lion Andy Andrews says he got ‘very annoyed’ and decided to do something about it.

He heard processing was to happen in Auckland only and was determined not to let unwanted glasses in the South Island go to waste, when he could see there was so much need in the Islands.

Andy spoke to the various Lions Clubs around the district and gathered enough support to continue the project through a collaborative effort. He took on the role of South Island coordinator.

“I’ve just sent five boxes of glasses to Tonga,” he says.

“And our local Vanuatuan boys have asked if we can send glasses there.

“I suppose it’s just my pig-headedness that’s pulled it together and kept it going down here.”

Now, Lions clubs from throughout the South Island send glasses to Andy in Cromwell to be processed. Locally, unwanted glasses are dropped off at Cromwell Pharmacy.

Andy Andrews brought people together to ensure the gift of sight could continue.

Elaine Connolly, Judy Carroll, Sue Becker and Ailex Reid were the volunteer team on the job processing donated spectacles when we visited. 

They sorted, checked for scratches or cracks, tightened screws, then washed them in an ultrasonic washer and dried them.

Sue then recorded their prescription using special equipment, they were labelled and placed in bags, ready for Andy to send to the Pacific Islands.

“We got involved courtesy of Andy,” Sue laughs.

“People from the various clubs met together and we were shown what to do and how to use the equipment.

“It just couldn’t work without Andy having a team behind him.”

Sue said it was nice working together with people from other clubs. It had become so much more than a worthwhile project that was doing good for people in the Islands; it was also something social and they all had a lot of laughs.

“It works because we’re all Lions,” Elaine adds.

“We all have the same commitment to do good in the community, so it’s a common goal that keeps us going as the project continues.”

Aotearoa New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) stated in its 2015 evaluation that supply and distribution of glasses through multiple initiatives such as this one caters for the 70-90% of the population with refractive errors whose needs can be addressed through ready-made glasses.

Anyone who has unused glasses they could donate, including reading glasses and sunglasses with or without prescriptions can take them to Cromwell Pharmacy in the mall, or click here to find Andy’s contact details.

Link to the full MFAT evaluation report here