One School
At A Time
Children with undiagnosed vision impairment are particularly vulnerable. It affects their personal development, educational outcomes, social development, and safety in public spaces. Unfortunately, a lack of access to eye care and treatment means millions of children remain unnecessarily vision impaired.
Partners
 
 
What we do?
To bridge this gap and give children from disadvantaged families and under-served communities a brighter future, CooperVision, OneSight EssilorLuxottica, African Eye Institute (AEI), Berkeley Vision, and Peek Vision launched a South African joint initiative — “One School at a Time” (OSaaT), part of the Berkeley Vision global program — conducting eye screenings, ensuring necessary referrals, and providing free spectacles as needed to children in South African schools. This initiative aims to upscale, accelerate and expand access to eye health services to reach more children in more locations, break down barriers to services, and introduce children to healthy habits that can last a lifetime.
 
 
 
The OSaaT initiative was introduced in 2021. During that time, the partners brought free vision screening, eye examinations, and spectacles to children in need at 11 KwaZulu-Natal schools in underrepresented communities.
 
To date, thousands of children from 37 schools (primary and secondary) have benefitted from the OSaaT programme.
 
 
 
Healthy Vision for Children
Participating schools - 2021
Siyabonga Secondary
Illovo
Amagcino Primary
Umgababa
Alipore Primary
Merebank
Collegevale Primary
Overport
Natest Primary
Mount Edgecombe
Allingham Primary
Phoenix
Umbilo Secondary
Wentworth
Summit Primary
Chatsworth
Briardale Primary
Newlands West
Malvern Primary
Shallcross
Clayton Primary
Asherville
Results from 2021
 
10,236
pupils underwent vision pre-screening
 
1,918
children with potential visual problems were identified and referred to the AEI optometry team for further screening
 
563
children were referred to the onsite optometrist for eye examinations
 
302
children received free spectacles
 
 
 
35
children were referred to their nearest hospital or clinic for further care and management
 
154
teachers underwent vision pre-screening
 
49
teachers were prescribed spectacles
 
 
Participating schools - 2022
Nizam Road Primary
Merebank
Phila Primary
Umlazi
Lotus Primary
Chatsworth
Makan Maistry Primary
Newlands East
New West Secondary
Newlands West
Seven Hills Primary
Chatsworth
Lenarea Secondary
Phoenix
Lenham Primary
Phoenix
Premary Ridge Primary
Reservoir Hills
Bonela Primary
Cato Manor
Columbia Primary
Greenwood Park
Crystal Point Secondary
Phoenix
Results from 2022
 
10,170
pupils underwent vision pre-screening
 
3,056
children with potential visual problems were identified and referred to the AEI optometry team for further screening
 
758
children were referred to the onsite optometrist for eye examinations
 
405
children received free spectacles
 
 
 
184
children were referred to their nearest hospital or clinic for further care and management
 
226
teachers underwent vision pre-screening
 
99
teachers were prescribed spectacles
 
 
Participating schools - 2023
Revisit
Siyabonga Secondary
Illovo
Amagcino Primary
Umgababa
Alipore Primary
Merebank
Collegevale Primary
Overport
Allingham Primary
Phoenix
Umbilo Secondary
Wentworth
Briardale Primary
Newlands West
Malvern Primary
Shallcross
Clayton Primary
Asherville
New
Mcothoyi Highin
Umgababa
Embonini Primary
Umlazi
Dr Yusuf Dadoo Primary
Azaadville
Apollo Secondary
Chatsworth
V. N. Naik School for the Deaf
Newlands
Macken Mistry Primary
Hippo Road
Sifunimfundo Primary
Inanda
Kanana Primary
Tembisa
Kwa-Mahlobo Secondary
Meadowlands Zone 9
Daliwonga Secondary
Soweto
Barracuda Primary
Newlands East
Summit Primary
Chatsworth
Results from 2023
 
23,514
pupils underwent vision pre-screening
 
5,004
children with potential visual problems were identified and referred to the AEI optometry team for further screening
 
1,486
children were referred to the onsite optometrist for eye examinations
 
892
children received free spectacles
 
 
 
626
children were referred to their nearest hospital or clinic for further care and management
 
397
teachers underwent vision pre-screening
 
192
teachers were prescribed spectacles
 
 
Another phase of the programme started in February 2024 and will be carried out till September 2024, aiming this time:
To revisit the 12 schools that benefitted from the OSaaT in 2022 to undergo vision screening again as a part of the programme’s approach to have schools be revisited every two years to ensure that children screened previously will have their vision reassessed (enabling the prescriptions to be accurate) and those who enrolled at the school after the last initiative will be given the opportunity to be tested.
 
To reach the 13 new schools in South Africa (approximately 11,000 learners and 250 educators).
Given many requests received during programme execution in 2022 from schools in Gauteng province, a decision was reached to broaden the initiative's reach starting in 2023, extending beyond territorial boundaries to encompass schools in both KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. For this purpose, since 2023, the OSaaT programme was augmented by a new partner - The Ruya Project (TRP) – supporting the initiative’s expansion in the Gauteng area.
Participating schools - 2024
Revisit
Nizam Road Primary
Merebank
Phila Primary
Umlazi
Lotus Primary
Chatsworth
Settlers Primary
Merebank
New West Secondary
Newlands West
Hillgrove Primary
Newlands West
Eqinisweni Primary
Inanda
Lenham Primary
Phoenix
Pemary Ridge Primary
Reservoir Hills
Bonela Primary
Mayville
Columbia Primary
Greenwood Park
Crystal Point Secondary
Phoenix
New
Newlands East Secondary
Newlands East
Ntshongweni Primary
Hammersdale
Umhloti Primary
Verulam
Nokuphila Primary
Tembisa
Kenville Primary
Kenville
Mnganiwakhe High
Umgababa
Libra Primary
Lenasia
Sunford Primary
Phoenix
Roshnee Primary
Roshnee
Gardenia Primary
Austerville
Elora Primary
Chatsworth
Thokozamnganga High
Edamini
 
 
M L Sultan Saint Marys Primary
Merebank
 
 
There’s lots of work to be done, but CooperVision, OneSight EssilorLuxottica, African Eye Institute (AEI), Berkeley Vision, The Ruya Project, and Peek Vision believe that via joint effort, they can make the future look a lot brighter for South Africa’s children.