Empowering 50 women entrepreneurs in El Salvador to start their own businesses selling reading glasses by providing training, marketing tools and equipment.
In El Salvador, over 1 million people, aged 35 and older, suffer from presbyopia and need reading glasses. Left untreated, presbyopia can impede economic productivity and diminish quality of life. Individuals whose livelihoods depend on clear up-close vision such as tailors, bookkeepers, or mechanics become unable to work after they reach a certain age and they lose their ability to earn an income. People’s quality of life suffers too as they become unable to sew, cook, or read.
For only $100 per person, Scojo identifies and trains local women "Vision Advisors" to screen for presbyopia, sell reading glasses, and identify patients in need of further eye care services.
9,900 pairs of reading glasses sold; 60 women entrepreneurs trained and provided with reading glasses; 3,300 clients referred to local hospital
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
