Hands Across The Sea

Photo 1. Letter of Appreciation, Photo 2. Student’s vision being screened, Photo 3. Children showing their Lions Kids Sight Pediatric Screening Sticker they received after screening, Photo 4. Pictured (L-R) Lion Mkrtich Sargsyan Chairperson Lions of Armenia, Lion Fraij Yapoujian Brookfield Lions, Lion Marie Yapoujian Brookfield Lions, Lion Tatevik Asatryan Secretary Artashat Lions, Lion Hambardzum, Lion Kegham Arshakyan President Artashat Lions.

The Brookfield CT. Lions have been very active in supporting many local and regional community programs including Lions Kid Sight Pediatric Vision Screening for children aged 6 months through 6 years. Using the WelchAllyn SPOT Camera, it can detect conditions such as: Astigmatism; Myopia; Hyperopia; Stabismus; Anisometropia and Anisocoria all of which if caught in time, prior to 7 years old, might be corrected. Since 80% of learning is visual, if a child cannot see well, they might have difficulty in learning.

Recently, Oct. 28, 2018, the Brookfield Lions achieved a milestone in their Lions Kid Sight Pediatric Vision Screening program by screening their 10,000th child. One of the Brookfield Lions, Fraij Yapoujian, wondered if this service was available in Armenia, his ancestral home. Through correspondence, phone calls and social media Lion Yapoujian was able to contact Lion Mkrtich Sargsyan, Zone Chairperson in Armenia. After a discussion of the program and what was involved an invitation to go to Armenia was extended.

Now the fun part, logistics. Lion Fraij and his wife Lion Marie had to borrow a SPOT Camera, printer, supplies, obtained 150 children eyeglass frames, 600 off the shelf reading glasses, book flights, review Government regulations and of course obtain funding. They anticipated screening 800-1000 children but actually screened 2003, including 50 adults. They referred 226 for further review by vision specialists. The question about cost for surgery and medical attention for those requiring it was raised and it still has to be answered.

In summary they were warmly received by the children, parents, teachers, school administrators, local politicians, Lions and were even interviewed on local TV. Much thanks for the success of this endeavor goes to Lion Mkrtich Sargsyan, Zone Chairperson in Armenia who took off 15 day from his work to host Lion Fraij and Lion Marie around to the schools and his country. They will be going back soon to continue the Lions Kid Sight Pediatric Vision Screening in other parts of Armenia.