Photograph: The ‘A’ Team. Everyone involved with providing the Land Rover and necessary equipment to help restore vision to people in Liberia.
Sightsavers, a project supported by Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI), is in the driving seat, thanks to receiving a newly restored Land Rover turbo diesel.
The 1990 model was brought back to life with help from young apprentices from the Birmingham Youth Offending Service, who, through the Birmingham Vehicles for Vision project, spent months repairing the vehicle before it was given a new paint job by Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull. The 4×4 is all set for action in Liberia where thousands are either blind or partially sighted as a result of water-borne and other preventable diseases.
Sightsavers workers can now reach the remote villages, located in areas where roads are not in existence, and help restore vision for many, including small children.
To keep the Land Rover on the road, it is carrying a mechanic’s box, donated by Trade Aid, a Rotary Club of Grantham Kesteven project, which will help extend the working life of the vehicle.
Jenny Marshall from SightSavers says the Land Rover will help deliver the services needed to save the sight of many people: “This will make a tremendous difference to the people of Liberia. Every minute, a child loses their sight and 80 percent of cases could have been prevented.
“Thank you to Trade Aid for donating the mechanic’s box. If anything goes wrong while on the way to villages, the driver can now fix the Land Rover and get back on the move again. Thank you also for the two teaching boxes and the seamstress box. These will be put to great use in our programmes in Liberia. We would not be able to do what we do today, were it not for the support of Rotary.”
Brenda and John Asher, founders of Trade Aid, were delighted to help. “We are thrilled to bits,” says John. “We’ve been to Africa and can fully appreciate the challenges ahead. That Land Rover will get to places you cannot imagine.”
The Land Rover was not the only gift for Sightsavers. During a presentation by District Governor David Butler, Rotarian Don Finch from the Rotary Club of Solihull was called on to present a cheque to the charity for £500. Over the past 18 years, Don has successfully raised in excess of £17,000 for Sightsavers, with help from fellow Rotarians at the club.
Rotarian Ray Turner from the Rotary Club of Stevenage Grange also presented a gift of 30 ophthalmoscopes for eye examinations, on behalf of the Rotarians Ophthalmic Initiative.
Visit Sightsavers for more information and find out how you can help others regain their vision.
Trade Aid projects restore livelihoods and self-esteem. With your help, more people can rebuild their lives following disaster.
There are many opportunities to help RIBI supported projects. Discover how you can be involved by visiting Opportunities to Serve or contact your local Rotary club.
