Favelas in Bogotá
Favelas in Bogotá
Favelas in Bogotá

Colombia

With Lentes al Instante (Colombia), GoodVision has already opened its fourth program in South America in 2022. Natalia Buitrago and her young team are gradually opening up more and more regions of the country.

9.259

Glasses issued

15.362

vision tests carried out

15

On-site employees

2022

Program start

More than 40 percent of the 51 million inhabitants are considered poor. Poverty is above average in rural areas, where ethnic minorities in particular live.

There are opticians in the big cities, but hardly any in the countryside. According to the IAPB, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, an estimated 7.8 million people will suffer from sight loss in 2020, 300,000 of whom will be blind.

Boy with OneDollarGlasses
© EinDollarBrille | Jhoan Hernán Sánchez

The first child we were able to help with glasses in Colombia was Jhoan Hernán Sánchez. He is 9 years old and lives in Leonela.

Project launch of Lentes al Instante (Colombia)
Boy with OneDollarGlasses
© EinDollarBrille | Jhoan Hernán Sánchez

The first child we were able to help with glasses in Colombia was Jhoan Hernán Sánchez. He is 9 years old and lives in Leonela.

Project launch of Lentes al Instante (Colombia)
Boy with OneDollarGlasses
© EinDollarBrille | Jhoan Hernán Sánchez

The first child we were able to help with glasses in Colombia was Jhoan Hernán Sánchez. He is 9 years old and lives in Leonela.

Project launch of Lentes al Instante (Colombia)

Pioneering work in Colombia

It took a good three years to overcome all the bureaucratic hurdles. This is because the official requirements in Colombia are very strict: all materials require special certification. Every eye test must be carried out by state-certified optometrists and must take place separately from the glasses fitting. Both may only take place in a closed room.

Our solution to this challenge

By converting a truck into a 7-metre-long mobile vision center, the Colombian team was able to provide the rural population with eye tests and glasses from August 2022. The demand is enormous. Requests are already coming in from all over the country, which is why a second mobile unit has already been completed.

A group of people in front of the mobile vision center
© EinDollarBrille

Prof. Max Steiner (second row left in suit), Project Manager LAI (Bolivia), was of course present at the handover of the mobile vision center.

Two women on the street
© EinDollarBrille | Natalia Buitrago and Dra. Cristina Santistevan 

Project manager Natalia Buitrago (right) and Dra. Cristina Santistevan, who is responsible for the ophthalmic optics area.

Max Steiner and Natalia Buitrago in the production hall
© EinDollarBrille | Max Steiner and Natalia Buitrago in the production hall

Impressive development: from scaffolding ...

mobile vision center
© EinDollarBrille | Mobile vision center

... to the finished vision center

A group of people in front of the mobile vision center
© EinDollarBrille

Prof. Max Steiner (second row left in suit), Project Manager LAI (Bolivia), was of course present at the handover of the mobile vision center.

Two women on the street
© EinDollarBrille | Natalia Buitrago and Dra. Cristina Santistevan 

Project manager Natalia Buitrago (right) and Dra. Cristina Santistevan, who is responsible for the ophthalmic optics area.

Max Steiner and Natalia Buitrago in the production hall
© EinDollarBrille | Max Steiner and Natalia Buitrago in the production hall

Impressive development: from scaffolding ...

mobile vision center
© EinDollarBrille | Mobile vision center

... to the finished vision center

Close cooperation with strong partners

Employees of the sister organization Lentes al Instante (LAI) Bolivia have trained the Colombian team in fitting the GoodVision Glasses and carrying out the eye tests.

Financial support comes from the international Rotary family. Strong local partners are the social foundation Fundasodher and the Barraquer Eye Clinic in Bogotá.

smiling woman with GoodVision Glasses
© EinDollarBrille | Happy customer with her GoodVision Glasses

Good eyesight for everyone!

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