Supporting Visually Impaired Youth in Newlands: The Small Project Foundation’s Vision for Change

In November 2024, Computer Aid along with BSI UK and BSI South Africa have donated 35 laptops to our local partner, the Small Project Foundation (SPF). 5 of these laptops were donated in January to visually impaired young people as part of the Bona Ubuntu Programme.

This is a programme developed by SPF in Eastern Cape to help address vision problems among young people, ensuring that poor eyesight doesn’t prevent students from achieving their educational goals.

Vision for Change identifies children with eye and vision issues and provides vision screenings, along with spectacles where needed. This initiative is especially important in the most vulnerable communities, where many children may not have access to eye care services. Teachers and trained ‘Vision Ambassadors’ help identify children who may need screenings, and optometrists are then brought in to provide testing and spectacles. Screenings are now taking place at the community lab, making the service more accessible to all.

The devices donated are equipped with specialised learning software, enabling students to enhance their educational experience and access resources they may not have had before.