Sanlam Namibia’s Vision for Change initiative, launched five years ago, continues to provide free vision screenings and prescription glasses to learners in need.

Last week, the mission reached a milestone in Mariental, where 288 learners received much-needed glasses at a special handover ceremony at the Teachers’ Resource Hall. Geziah Coetzee, a top-performing student at WJD Cloete Combined School, has been struggling with her vision for the past two years.

“When my eyes are exposed to sunlight, my vision becomes blurry when I walk into class. This daily challenge affected my schoolwork and confidence, making it difficult to keep up with my peers,” she said.

The initiative’s fifth edition began in May in Aranos, reaching learners across 28 schools in the Hardap region in two phases. 

With Shaetonhodi Optics, Sanlam conducted screenings and tests for learners in Aranos, Stampriet, Gochas, Mariental, Hoachanas, Klein-Aub, Reitoog and Maltahöhe. 

Coetzee’s experience is just one example, as poor eyesight remains a common but often-overlooked barrier for learners in the Hardap region.

Chief education officer for professional development at the education ministry Juanitha Motinga said their support and Sanlam’s commitment to education as well as the transformative power of the initiative continues to be imparted to young Namibians.

“This initiative is about more than just sight. It’s about opening doors and empowering these children. We’re helping them see clearly so they can focus on learning and dreaming bigger,” she said. 

This initiative has reached more than 2 000 learners throughout Namibia since its inception in 2017, apart from the 520 learners who were evaluated and tested in Hardap this year. 

By means of this initiative, Sanlam remains committed to empowering the next generation, guaranteeing that learners are equipped with the necessary resources to excel in their academic pursuits and beyond. 

Sanlam is dedicated to the expansion of Vision for Change, and is enthusiastic about expanding its presence to additional regions annually, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and optimistic future for Namibia’s youth.

-psiririka@nepc.com.na