Name: Hean Sok Him
Age:12
Location:Battambang Eye Unit, Cambodia
Giving Partner:SEVA Foundation

We just received this story from Seva Foundation, and were thrilled to hear the impact TOMS Eyewear purchases are having on individual lives and communities. As you will read, TOMS Eyewear purchases are not only helping save and restore sight, but they are also supporting the work of locally-based eye care programs that are investing in the education of their community through training and outreach programs.

While at school in Cambodia, 12-year-old Hean Sok Him was having trouble seeing the chalkboard from afar and reading books in class. He would complain to his parents that he couldn’t see properly and did not like going to school. He no longer wanted to play with friends during the day.

Through the support of TOMS Eyewear purchases, the Battambang Eye Unit staff were able to conduct school training sessions to educate teachers in Hean Sok Him’s community about basic eye health and how to screen students for potential eye issues. After the training session, Hean Sok Him’s teacher screened the class and found that Hean Sok Him wasn’t able to see clearly. The teacher sent him and his mom to the Battambang Eye Unit, a Seva Foundation supported clinic, for a full eye exam.

The staff at Battambang Eye Unit welcomed Hean Sok Him and his mother and gave him a full eye exam and refraction. They found that Hean Sok Him was in desperate need of prescription glasses. Through the support of a TOMS Eyewear purchase, Hean Sok Him’s exam was covered and he was given his very first pair of prescription glasses.

Immediately, Hean Sok Him noticed an improvement in his sight, saying with excitement, "I promise to go to school to study regularly!" Both he and his mother were very happy and expressed great thanks to the staff and TOMS.

Thank you for helping bring sight to children like Hean Sok Him!

www.seva.org
eyewear/our-movement/