CEBU CITY, January 19 (PIA7) -- More than a
hundred public school students and abandoned kids benefit eye refraction,
feeding and empowerment activities initiated by the Cebu Lumad Lions Club
(Lumads) in Mandaue and Cebu Cities.
In line with the
celebration of “Melvin Jones Week” the Lumads picked three elementary schools
in Mandaue City to conduct for free, eye check up or refraction. The
project Sight for Kids choose students from Subangdaku, Ibaba-Estancia and
Maguikay Elementary Schools.
Project chairman for
Sight for Kids Gaille Dejoras said, Jones was the founder of Lions
Club International and the compassion to those who are visually impaired leads
the values of the club.
Volunteer optometrists
Dr. Myla Venturillo refracted 80 students in all schools and would have done
more if not for time constraints.
She said it is a good
thing that there are private organizations that are taking time to take care of
the issue on poor eyesight among school children. Venturillo signed the
prescription for eyeglasses for the school kids which the Lions Club will
provide.
Unfortunately some
parents fail to recognize that their children have vision issues since
childbirth or earlier years. Early treatment and management could have
prevented it.
Lumad
member Ryan Solon said, having assisted in the conduct of the project
makes one think as a parent to make sure all necessary nutrients for growth and
development are provided to children.
Based on the
interactions he had with the school children parents did not bother to have their
eyes checked due to financial constraints.
He also learned that
other than nutrition deficiencies, the unregulated use of gadgets such as
cellular phones, tablets, computers and even watching television instigate
eyesight problems.
On the other hand,
culminating the week is THE “Youngsters Project- a Youth Empowerment” among a
hundred children at the SOS Village in Cebu City.
Project
chairman Rose Diaz said, there about a hundred abandoned and fostered
children at the SOS Village that were offered feeding. After
which the children underwent an empowerment session.
“We get to learn who
they are, their dreams, aspirations and taught them tips on how to balance life
and reach these dreams,” Diaz said.
Cebu Lumad Lions have
in lined for this year, several activities with the public sector for various
services benefiting children, women and others.
Melvin Jones week is
celebrated every January commemorating the birthday of Jones, January 13,
1879.
The Lions adapted
Jones code of service, “"You can't get very far until you start doing
something for somebody else”. (mbcn/FCC/PIA7-Cebu)