Got an old pair of specs lying around? Here’s how to donate them to someone in need

CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to Yvette Bibis, an Educator and Grade Head at Holy Rosary School in Edenvale.

Listen below: 

Holy Rosary School, an all-girls school in Edenvale, Johannesburg, has partnered with Lens of Hope South Africa to launch a powerful new initiative aimed at restoring vision and changing lives.

Their goal? To collect 8,500 pairs of pre-loved spectacles and give them a second life.

Each donated pair will be carefully refurbished and distributed to someone in need, transforming forgotten glasses hidden in drawers and cupboards into the gift of clear sight for thousands.

This campaign collaborates with World Sight Day on 9 October and is part of the global #LoveYourEyes movement. By taking part, Holy Rosary School is proudly amplifying South Africa’s voice in the worldwide call for accessible and affordable eye care for all.

"Any spectacles that have been used... we all have a pair lying around somewhere, hand them in so we can hand them over to the right people to make a big change. We'll reuse the frame, refurbish them and put new lenses in for those who can't afford to buy their own and desperately need them."

- Yvette Bibis, Educator - Holy Rosary School 

"We're hoping to reach as many people as possible and help as many people as possible. 

- Yvette Bibis, Educator - Holy Rosary School 

How to help: 

Holy Rosary School in Edenvale is the main collection point for old spectacles and cases, but the hope and greater goal is to get whole communities involved.

Schools, churches, businesses, and neighbourhoods can all join in by requesting collection boxes and posters to turn these areas in communities into drop-off points until the end of October. 

If you're in Cape Town, drop off used spectacles at Lens of Hope in Observatory.

If you're elsewhere and want to help someone in need gain access to a much-needed pair of spectacles, get in touch with Yvette Bibis via email: ybibis@holyrosaryschool.co.za.

Scroll up to the audio player for more.