VCGY: A Voice For the Blind

 

Every five seconds, one person goes blind. In the world, 180 million people have poor vision. These souls need help, and they are precisely the ones that the organization, Vision Care Global Youth (VCGY), strives to help and nurture. VCGY is a youth-run organization that targets those with poor vision and tries to make a change through spreading awareness and collecting glasses or money.

Although most people are born with five senses: sight, hearing, touch, feeling and smell, some do not have those luxuries. Eleven schools, including Korea International School, Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies and Sookmyung Girls’ Middle School participate in helping these partially blind people in various ways, such as collecting glasses, raising awareness, asking for money and holding various events (such as free eye-care service for foreigners or a walk for the blind).

VCGY holds or participates in many events that gets other people involved. For example, on Oct. 7, VCGY assisted and participated in a walkathon held by the Korean Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness called the 2012 EYE LOVE Walkathon. The goal for this walkathon was to raise money for those with poor vision, as well as bring people willing to make a change together.  Hundreds of civilians from all over Korea came to take part in this campaign. Everyone walked four kilometers side-by-side, with the same ultimate goal: to make a change for those in danger of losing sight.

On Nov. 24, VCGY gathered at AK Plaza, trying to spread awareness as well as collect any money that people passing by were willing to contribute. Seventeen Korea International School members roamed around holding boxes, explaining the urgency of this cause to pedestrians and telling others about how even a little money could make a difference. In total, 99,500 won was earned for the blind within two hours. Eunice Ghil, age 17, president of the Korea International School branch of VCGY, commented that she “felt really proud watching everyone–including the newer members–participating. Everyone worked hard for a common goal, and it showed in the amount of money [that was] raised.

VCGY has had an impressive turnout: it has raised 11 million won within the last year, and has treated 58,000 patients and performed 8,000 free cataract operations at Vision Care Eye Camps. Vision Care Global Youth is no doubt an organization with a great mission that is greatly affecting our everyday world.