GENERAL

Farewell to a very successful 2023!

Festive greetings from the Eyes2Eyes team. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who supported our cause throughout the year. We are indebted to our partners and sponsors who are instrumental to us carrying out our mission. To all, your generosity, kindness, and ongoing commitment have fuelled our mission and transformed the lives of many people who face challenges of corneal vision impairment.

The 2023 year brought with it many highlights for our charity, whilst can also be accessed through the Eyes2Eyes Instagram page.

1. Music for Sight Fundraising Concert (11^th February 2023) at D’Aria Wine Estate, Durbanville. A live performance under the stars from the Heydeburg Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Dr Leonard Heydenrych, in collaboration with the world renowned Tygerberg Children’s Choir and the Outeniqua Jazz Band.
2. Supported multiple clients, mostly adolescents, with the assistance of our partner, @uthandosa, founded by @jamesferniect.
   • Akhona (@uthandosa in collaboration with @80daysdk)
   • Luqmaan (@uthandosa)
   • Melissa (excellent outcomes, 20/20 vision in both eyes with her specialist lenses.
   • Likho (@uthandosa in collaboration with @weareafricatravel) – was able to finish Grade 11 this year with crystal clear sight
   • Kabelo – 12 year old, able to return to school, won multiple prizes at the end of the year
   • Esam
   • Shakier – ran his first full marathon in 2023, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, and also took on the Level 1 Coaching course with Athletics South Africa!
   • Eness
   • Tracey
   • Toufiqha
   • Fadous (@uthandosa in collaboration with Livingstone Safaris) – 16 year old, highly talented clarinet player at the Hugo Lamprecht Music Academy, was able to return to mainstream school from Athlone school from the blind, and read sheet music for the very first time.
   • Mogammat – 17 year old from Athlone
   • Qaqamba (in collaboration with The Ackerman Family Foundation) – was able to return to her studies in public health without detrimental vision impairment
   • Tayyib (in collaboration with The Ackerman Family Foundation)
   • Robert
   • Tauhirah – 20 years old
   • Athi (in collaboration with Grandslots Corporate Social Investment)
   • Faiz (in collaboration with Grandslots Corporate Social Investment)
   • Bronwyn (@uthandosa, @xmaseko) – 30 years old, was able to return to her full-time job
   • Loren
3. Congratulations to Sese! A new board member of Eyes2Eyes
   • Sese spent many years receiving prescription spectacles that simply did not give her functional vision. She received her customised scleral lenses almost two years ago – since then her career and quality of life has excelled, and was also promoted this year to a more senior role as a finance administrator.
4. Visit to Two Oceans Aquarium at V&A waterfront for our beneficiares
   • Another beautiful, heartfelt gift from our friends Uthando South Africa. So many members of the group were able to clearly appreciate the stunning colours and sights at the aquarium.
5. Mandela Day
   • To honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, we made sandwiches and soup for vulnerable communities in Greenpoint, Cape Town. In collaboration with Salesians Youth Institute, Smile FM and Jenny Morris.
6. Cape Talk – Gift of Life Podcast Series
   • The founder of Eyes2Eyes, Amanda Seccombe, shared her incredible story with one of the radio hosts of Cape Talk, Pippa Hudson, available at https://www.capetalk.co.za/podcasts
7. Limitless Cape Town
   • Eyes2Eyes were invited to join a wonderful tour of murals in Salt River, Cape Town, guided by Winston Fani, Africa’s first blind tour guide. Each mural has a braille plaque and a QR Code which leads to an audio description by Winston detailing the story behind the piece. The outing was insightful, educational and inspiring for us to continue our work.
8. Launch of our Eye Q Podcast
   • In our latest episode, Freddie chats with Willem from California about his journey with keratoconus and why he took on the California International Marathon on Sunday 8^th December in aid of Eyes2Eyes.

As we enter into 2024, let us carry forward our lessons learned, our relationships strengthened, and strive for more success in raising awareness for corneal vision impairments, and helping our current and future clients achieve optimal vision outcomes.

Image: Starline, FreePik