Bolivia
Lentes al instante (Bolivia) ensures good eyesight throughout the country: from the subtropical lowlands to the borders with Brazil and Paraguay, across the Andean valleys and on the Altiplano at an altitude of 4,000 m to Lake Titicaca.
Glasses issued
vision tests carried out
On-site employees
Program start
Lentes al Instante (Bolivia)
Prof. Max Steiner has built up the GoodVision program in Bolivia with great personal commitment. Born in Switzerland, he has been at home in Bolivia for a long time. Based in Santa Cruz, he not only manages the program in Bolivia, but also sets the course for all GoodVision programs there as coordinator for South America.
For the colleagues in Colombia and Peru, Prof. Max Steiner and his Bolivian team were important sparring partners and provided valuable support in setting up the programs and training new employees. In 2022, the Bolivian team's focus shifted not only north to neighboring Colombia, but also to Paraguay, which borders Bolivia and Brazil to the south. A friendly collaboration with the Retina Foundation there gradually developed into a permanent partnership.
Flexibility on the road with mobile teams
Three mobile teams have been working for Lentes al Instante in Bolivia since 2021. They often travel over a thousand kilometers in minibuses to the country's most remote villages to provide people with glasses as part of campaigns.
weltwärts Cooperation
About 20 young men and women from Germany, who come to Santa Cruz every year through the weltwärts program of the German government, are a great help to LAI (Bolivia). For one year, they help on site, assist with the vision screenings and help organize the eye camps. Well trained by the volunteers of GoodVision in Germany, they have the necessary knowledge to actively support their Bolivian colleagues.
Precision by hand in the grinding workshop
Helping hands are also needed for the astigmatism program in Bolivia. Since 2021, we have been able to offer spherical lenses as well as lenses for astigmatism in Bolivia. These are manufactured in a small grinding shop at our headquarters in Santa Cruz and are delivered to our teams in all regions of Bolivia by night bus: from the subtropical lowlands to the border with Brazil, in the Andean valleys and on the Altiplano at over 4,000 meters above sea level. It is precisely there, at an altitude of 1,000 meters and above, that around 20 percent of the people who come for our eye tests are affected by astigmatism.
For me, the most important aspect of my work is being allowed to help. But also having to help.
