CEBU CITY, January 19 (PIA7) --- More
than a hundred public school students and abandoned kids benefited from 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 chose three elementary schools in
Mandaue City to conduct free eye check-up or refraction.
Gaille Dejoras,
project chairman for Sight for Kids, said Jones was the founder of Lions Club
International and the compassion to those who are visually impaired leads the
values of the club.
The project Sight for
Kids chose students from Subangdaku, Ibaba-Estancia and Maguikay Elementary
Schools.
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 early years. Early treatment and management could have
prevented it.
Ryan Solon, a Lumad
member, 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', he said the parents were
not able to have the children's 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”
activity for a hundred children at the SOS Village in Cebu City.
Rose Diaz, project
chairman, said there about a hundred abandoned and fostered children at the SOS
Village that were fed and 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”. (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)