The United Synagogue

US Spectacles Collection To Correct Sight in The Developing World

PRESS RELEASE

London,
5th February 2009

US SPECTACLES COLLECTION TO CORRECT SIGHT IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

Project Chesed, the joint initiative of the United Synagogue and the London School of Jewish Studies, is embarking on an ambitious project supported by The Eye Warehouse, to collect thousands of unused pairs of spectacles from its members which will in turn be sent by Vision Aid Overseas to optical clinics in various African countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi and Zambia. With up to 200 million people in the developing world suffering from poor sight, Vision Aid Overseas will recycle Project Chesed's collection to create the correct prescriptions and enable those people to gain education and employment, and break out of a cycle of deepening poverty.

To date, Project Chesed has also secured the support of 20 opticians from across the community who are donating new unused stock to the collection. This will be given to World Jewish Relief's Optical Programme which provides free prescription glasses to Jewish communities in need in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. The Optical Programme, run entirely by volunteers, today provides prescription spectacles to over 5,000 people every year.

The Project Chesed collection is dedicated to the memory of Giles Van Colle, a US member and Jewish optician who was deeply involved in helping others and was tragically murdered in 2000.

Candice Woolfson, Director of Project Chesed, commented: "Intrinsic to our Jewish responsibility is an obligation to relieve the suffering of those in need and such a simple act as dropping off a pair of unused spectacles at your local shul can actually change someone's life. With the correct spectacles, people can learn, work and achieve a quality of life otherwise completely unobtainable.

We are so grateful for all the support we have received for this campaign, particularly from The Eye Warehouse and the 20 opticians who are so generously donating new stock."


-End-


EDITORS' NOTES: -

Project Chesed

Project Chesed teaches about the Jewish responsibility we have for our fellow human beings, encourages more acts of charity and kindness and inspires our community to make a difference. Project Chesed is a joint initiative of the United Synagogue Community Division and the London School of Jewish Studies and is generously sponsored by the Dr Benjamin Angel Foundation and a private donor.


Vision Aid Overseas

Vision Aid Overseas is a charity dedicated to helping people in the developing world whose lives are blighted by poor eyesight, particularly where spectacles can help. It works by sending abroad teams of volunteer optometrists and dispensing opticians who set up clinics, screen large number of patients and provide appropriate spectacles.
Started in 1985, Vision Aid Overseas has provided 600,000 eye tests and given 300,000 people the ability to see with a pair of spectacles.


For further information, please contact:

Nikki Saunders
The PR Office
Work: 020 7284 6943
Email: us@theproffice.com

this week
shabbat times

May. 25th - 26th
5th Sivan
Begins: 20:46
Ends: 22:03
Sedra: Bamidbar

   ------------------------