More than 42 million children around the world have been helped through the Sight For Kids program since its inception, including Sayani Naskar. As a fifth grader, Sayani struggled to see the blackboard in class, making it difficult for her to be a successful student. Her parents, Trishna and Sanat Naskar, vividly remember her complaining about experiencing double vision and a lack of visual focus, a systemic disease called diplopia. They also noticed that her eyes were often watery, and she complained of persistent headaches.
Sayani’s family was concerned for her and knew something was wrong, but were not aware that a pair of eyeglasses could stop both her headaches and improve her eyesight. Thankfully, her school, the Lions Calcutta Greater Vidya Mandir School in Kolkata, India, has Sight For Kids programming and vision screenings in place just for these kinds of situations. One day, her vision was screened, and her vision condition was uncovered. After the vision screening, her parents called an optometrist and traveled to an eye clinic where Sayani received free glasses especially for her provided by the Sight For Kids program.
Now, years later, Sayani is an eleventh grader, excelling in academics, electives and extra-curricular activities. She was even named Head Girl, a highly regarded position that allows her to represent her school’s entire student body! Once she graduates, Sayani plans to pursue a degree in computer science, and believes her glasses support her passion for coding and computers.
Sayani’s experiences are reflective of the ways Sight For Kids empowers students to achieve in the classroom. “My glasses help me to see properly,” Sayani said, and her parents are so grateful they do. Trishna and Sanat believe the Sight For Kids program set Sayani up for success. Today, they are confident in her future and are looking forward to seeing all that she can accomplish.
As a global, school-based eye health program, Sight For Kids has been mobilizing Lions and eye care professionals to provide comprehensive eye health services in low-income schools, such as Sayani’s, for 20 years. In 2002, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and Johnson & Johnson Vision came together to build upon their organizational expertise and created a partnership committed to addressing eye health inequality among children. Since then, Sight For Kids has equipped communities around the world with the tools necessary to provide all children equal access to quality eye health care.
Sayani’s story is a tangible reminder of the incredible power of partnerships and their ability to create exponential change, one child at a time.
“Meet the Vision Champions” is an ongoing series highlighting champions of Sight For Kids and celebrating our 20 year partnership with Johnson & Johnson Vision.
Elizabeth Edwards is a content specialist at Lions Clubs International Foundation.
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