
Malawi Outreach Optometry Trip 2024
Donation protected
Hello everyone. My name is Maia and I am a Cardiff University Optometry Student.
I have been given the opportunity to travel to Malawi in June 2024, for three weeks, to volunteer on an Outreach Project. We will be providing hundreds of free eye tests, glasses, medicines and other eye care for people of all ages, in multiple parts of the country; including Karonga in the North and Blantyre in the South. We will be visiting hospitals and orphanages, as well as rural communities where there is no access to eye or health care. The main cause of reversible blindness there, is refractive error and cataract, and so we will be funding as many cataract surgeries as possible over there, where they cost just £30. Giving people glasses will enable people to see the world properly for the first time.
Providing this care will be completely life changing to so many families and individuals. We are also hoping to be able to teach in some hospitals and observe in some clinics, to try and improve the quality of care over there.
This opportunity has been organised primarily by Pete Hong, who has organised outreach projects to third world countries for decades. I am going as the Student Team Leader with 3 other students, Pete and two supervisors and we will work closely together to have the biggest impact possible on these communities. The population in Malawi is around 20 million (and growing) and yet there are only around 100 Optometrists qualified. Our work will be transformational for so many.
Donations to this page will go towards covering some travel expenses to get me over there, but predominantly go towards buying as many medicines, cataract surgeries and vision aids as possible. The more money we raise, the bigger the difference we can make.
As well as donations, we are also collecting as many pairs of glasses as possible, so if you or anyone you know has any pairs, please get in contact with me to arrange collection. We are hoping to aid in other forms, such as feminine hygiene, clothes and pens etc for the children. I want to go and change the lives of people much less fortunate than us. Please help in anyway you can and thank you for reading and being a part of my journey. If you know me, you know how much this means to me. I have attached some pictures from previous trips. Each donation goes such a long way, and will mean so much to me and the people of Malawi.
Organizer
Maia Warrack
Organizer