大象传媒

Jill is an optometrist, currently she works at the Malton branch of 'Scrivens Opticians', but three years ago she visited Zambia for the first time. She went with the sight charity, Vision Aid Overseas, to give people eye tests and hand out glasses.

Jill couldn't believe how simple eye care, that we take for granted, is a rarity in Zambia, "There's not even one qualified optometrist in Zambia and many people there consider themselves blind, when in fact their vision could easily be corrected by wearing a pair of glasses".

Jill giving an eye test whilst in Zambia

Jill was inspired by what she saw and decided to try and help, "Resources are incredibly limited, so most people don't have access to things we take for granted, such as a simple pair of specs".

So how did the charity come about?

Many of the eye clinics, organised by Vision Aid Overseas, take place in rural parts of Zambia. Whilst holding one of these clinics Jill was approached by a teacher who asked her if she could find a twin school for them to correspond with in the UK. She was happy to help, "It seems such a simple thing to us, but it means a great deal to children in Zambia that people in Europe are interested in them and want to communicate with them."

After this first twinning, Jill received a number of other requests from teachers in Zambia and the Zambian Educational Support Trust (Zest-UK) was created. So far Jill's linked 12 schools in the UK, mainly in Yorkshire and Somerset, with rural schools in Zambia.

Children in both countries get a great deal out of the links, "From the UK perspective, it really opens their eyes to how children live in different parts of the world. In rural Zambia, there is often no electricity or running water and you have children here in the UK wondering how they charge their mobiles. The letters are amazing to read and its surprising how children with such different experiences can find common ground."

Children in Zambia also benefit, "They just love being in touch with people in other parts of the world. They are genuinely delighted that people care enough to want to be involved."

A lot of the twinned schools have developed projects of their own to provide help and support for their schools in Zambia, and Zest-UK is also engaged in numerous projects. Jill says, "Were helping to build homes for teachers, providing new classrooms and digging boreholes."

Chileleko Community School

Jill admits that running the charity is a lot of work, "You just have to find the time, and I have great support from four or five people in Thirsk. I couldn't do it without them." She adds that the work is worthwhile, "Every time I visit Zambia I am shocked by how little they have and how hard the teachers work. There's really nothing there and everyone can make a difference. No money we raise is lost in transit, it all finds its way to those schools in Zambia."

Despite the hard work she hasn't forgotten the original reason she visited. She returned to Zambia again in 2008 to screen the sight of more than 2,000 students and teachers. Jill also believes she's learnt a great deal from the experience, "The people of Zambia have taught me so much. They are so patient, so undemanding and have so little. They are hugely encouraged that we are bothered about them."