At Vision Action, Volunteers’ Week is a chance to celebrate and thank the individuals who give their time and expertise to help transform lives through better eye health. Whether it’s supporting our programmes in-country, raising awareness, or fundraising through marathons and challenge events, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do.
This week, we shine a light on the incredible work of three dedicated volunteers who are preparing to travel to Ethiopia to support the next phase of our paediatric optometry training programme.
They are currently finalising training materials for a Training of Trainers course in Paediatric Optometry and Case Management, which will be delivered in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Optometric Association. The course is funded through the Global Health Workforce Programme, supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and aims to strengthen the capacity of Ethiopia’s eye health workforce.
Celebrating Volunteers’ Week and how they support us, Belachew Paulos, Country Director, Vision Action Ethiopia, said, “Volunteers play a vital role in helping us bridge the skills gap in Ethiopia’s health sector. Their dedication to building capacity through training and knowledge sharing is invaluable.
“I’m proud to welcome our volunteers to Ethiopia, your expertise and passion will make a lasting impact, and I’m here to support you every step of the way.”
Volunteer Kath Stott, who previously delivered paediatric optometry training in Ethiopia, shared, “I’m delighted to be returning to Addis Ababa in July to support Ethiopian optometrists deliver eye care services to children. Three years ago, I co-delivered a two-week course in Paediatric Optometry.
“This time, an updated version will be delivered by four national optometrists as part of a Training of Trainers course. Giving people not just the skills for the job, but also the ability to train others, is for me the best part of volunteering.”
We are incredibly proud of our volunteers and the impact they make every day, not only improving lives through better eye care but building lasting skills and confidence in local health systems.