Doing work (Musanze style)

The Turks came through and delivered our missing gear the next day, allowing us to finally get to work.

Our team consisted of two specialized groups... 

1. Ophthalmologists and engineer: Dr. Christensen, Scott Rowe, Penny and Jen Lambert

These are the actual medical professionals. 

Their focus was on serious eye issues, such as cataracts and other damage requiring surgery.

They engaged the local eye doctor and nursing staff to assist with consultation, surgery and updating / maintaining the various eye care devices (like microscopes, etc).

Each morning, this team headed off to the local hospital to work with the single eye specialist in town, Dr. David Karama.

2. Reading test and fitting: George, Heather, Sam, Riad, Prince and Moise

These were NOT medical professionals. 

Our focus was on eye issues as a result of aging... the need for readers which are essentially magnifying glasses wrapped in a frame.

We engaged the local pastors and church volunteers to train and assist with simple reading tests and fitting reading glasses.

What differentiates the PEACE plan engagements with other NGOs for helping Africa, is that our teams are not there to "give them fish" but instead "teach them to fish" and by them, specifically the local church.

Everything is done through the church, allowing the church, NOT another group of "best of intention-ed rich Westerners", to have all the recognition and credit for any service delivered, any value gained.

After securing the blessing of the local church leader, in the case of Musanze, it was the Anglican vicar, Pastor Samuel, the team setup at the main church in town.

Every morning, we stepped through our program... 

1.Short presentation on caring for your eyes, including wearing sunglasses, eating well, and most importantly good hygiene.

2. Delivery of sunglasses to everyone

3. Conduct reading tests and if required, fit for appropriate reading glasses

In some cases, if there was a serious problem, we would capture their details for a referral to the hospital.

Rinse and repeat.

 Organizing the readers into powers... +1, +1.25, +1.5 etc.

Moise and Heather rockin' a Crest commercial... seriously, who has smiles like this???

Fluorescent green is the new black.

 Courtyard of the Musanze Anglican church... beautiful.

Heather, Moise and a very serious and intense Sam doing work.

Not surprisingly, the boys loved them some Sam and Heather...

Making Rwandans cool, one pair o shades at a time.

By the third day, the local church team were conducting the test and fitting readers... with great results...

Sometimes new glasses had a Clark Kent effect... who IS this lady in glasses, sitting where my mom just was???

The team with Pastor Samuel (the Anglican vicar), and Augustine, one of the trainer pastors.