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Project 20/20
Volunteers Helping People See Better Around the World
 
Project 20/20 is a human service program that protects and improves the sight of disadvantaged persons of all faiths in underdeveloped areas of the world where medical care for the poor is very limited. The program provides eyeglasses to medical teams that provide the poor with professional eye care free of charge. This non-profit all-volunteer program is sponsored by the United Methodist Church as a response to people in need regardless of their faith. Project 20/20 is possible because of volunteers and donations from many church denominations, community civic clubs, humanitarian organizations, medical offices, and the Southern College of Optometry.
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MEDICAL TEAMS AND RESULTS

Man Practipating in an Eye Examination
From Project 20/20's beginning in 1993 through the most recent calendar year, 2007, Project 20/20 has helped improve the vision of over 27,000 persons in underdeveloped areas of the world. Over 100 teams have now used Project 20/20 glasses to improve vision and prevent blindness. Some medical teams qualified to receive prescription eyeglasses; other teams were able to dispense sunglasses only. In nearly every year, Project 20/20 was able to help at least one student from the Southern College of Optometry join an international medical team.

Service to All by All

Sponsored by the United Methodist Church and operated by volunteers from many denominations, Project 20/20 serves both medical teams and patients of all faiths without discrimination. This human service program joins with churches, civic clubs, medical offices and associations, and the Southern College of Optometry to make the service possible. Between 1993 and 2007, the program supported 103 teams from 15 states (from New York to Hawaii) that served in 23 countries on four continents. The teams were sponsored by many groups from many locations.

MEDICAL TEAM SPONSORS:

 CHURCHES: Baptist, Catholic, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, United Methodist

 ORGANIZATIONS: Christian Medical and Dental Association, Haiti Medical Missions, International Lions Clubs, Jamaica Partners, Living Waters, Manos-Abiertas, Mid-South Africa Link, UFM International, Urban Global Mission Alliance, World Cataract Foundation

 MEDICAL OFFICES: Optometry, Ophthalmology, Hospitals

 STUDENTS: Southern College of Optometry

MEDICAL TEAM LOCATIONS: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin

COUNTRIES/TERRITORIES SERVED: Belize, Bolivia , Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Papau New Guinea, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Support to Vision Care Teams

Different types of support are provided to different types of medical teams. All medical teams receive assistance in planning and organizing their trips. Teams traveling for the first time to a particular country can often gain from the experience of previous teams. Project 20/20 will help teams connect with each other in preparation for the trip. Project 20/20 also provides material support in the form of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and other supplies. Eyeglasses organized by prescription powers of ±0.50 to 18.00 are provided to improve vision. Non-prescription sunglasses are provided to medical teams traveling to tropical and high altitude countries.

Support to Optometry Students

Project 20/20 dedicates approximately half of its annual cash donations toward sponsoring the travel costs of advanced optometry students on medical teams serving abroad. The $800-$1,000 cost per student is considered a great investment. Each student typically helps around 125 persons see better. Each student also gains extremely valuable experience with many eye pathologies. Additionally, each student learns first hand about the needs of the poor around the world and develops a personal commitment to provide professional service on medical teams after graduation. In fact, several vision care teams supported by Project 20/20 were led by recent graduates of the Southern College of Optometry.

Volunteers, Medical Teams, and Results

As a result of the time and contribution of thousands of volunteers, over 27,000 persons have received eyeglasses to improve their vision between 1993 and 2007. Additionally, over 28,000 persons have received sunglasses to protect their vision.

While the cumulative numbers are large, it is important to recognize that the glasses are processed one at a time, and the people are helped one person at a time. Vision care is very individualized; it is not like a mass mailing. The dedication and effort of all the volunteers who made it possible to improve the vision of each of the 27,000 persons who received eyeglasses. That contribution is greatly appreciated.

The chart below lists all the medical teams supported by Project 20/20 since it began in 1993. Some teams qualified to receive prescription eyeglasses; some teams were able to dispense sunglasses only. Project 20/20 has sponsored over 50 optometry students on medical teams that served in Central and South America and helped over 6,000 persons to see better.

Summary of Medical Teams Supported by Project 20/20

Year Teams Eyeglasses Sunglasses Scholarships
 
19931534N/A1
19942400N/A1
19951200N/A2
19963250N/A0
199741050N/A4
199864622000
1999417124003
2000516005004
2001578919004
2002729907505
200313423428456
20049266329004
200515339665954
200614250968007
200713293954984
2008????
2009????
2010????
20111525002500?
20121121004900?
2013916202350?
Total13731,95138,13849

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