EYE CAMPSeeing the unknown future with OWNDAYS

今回のOWNDAYS Eye CampはNPO法人IVY様のご協力のもと、イラク・カイヤラ地区で実施されました。中東でのOWNDAYS Eye Campは今回が初となります。
昨年同様、新型コロナウイルス感染症流行の影響により、OWNDAYSスタッフの渡航は断念し、作成されたメガネは現地のIVYスタッフに託されました。

モスル郡カイヤラ地区は、2016年までISILに占領されてしまった地区。その後の奪還作戦では多くの公共施設が破壊されました。
今回の会場に使用されたマシャリク小学校は、ISILに占領された際に校舎が破壊され、解放後に募った募金によって学校が再建されました。

今回の活動では現地の子供たちやその保護者、近隣に住むご年配の方などを対象に視力測定とメガネの配布が実施されました。
壊れたまま新しいメガネが買えなかった子供。今までメガネを作ることができなかった子供。見え方の合わない老眼鏡を使い続けていたご年配の方々。
どなたも新しく手渡されたメガネをかけては笑顔を覗かせていました。
海外製品がこの村に届けられたことも占領からの解放後、今回が初めてのことで非常に喜んでいただくことができました。

これから中東諸国への進出が決まっているOWNDAYS。
今後とも新たな活動の範囲を広げ、中東でのOWDAYS Eye Campを継続的に実施していきます。

第19回目のOWNDAYS Eye Campは、ミャンマーシャン州にあるピンロンとヤックソクという地域で開催されました。

今回の活動では新型コロナウイルス感染症の流行が影響したことで、これまでのように世界各国からOWNDAYSスタッフが集まって各地を訪問し、メガネを配布することが非常に困難な状況となりました。そこで私たちが作成した448本のメガネを、現地のドクターとチャリティーグループのスタッフの皆様が、感染対策を徹底しながら届けてくださいました。

本拠地としているタウンジーから車で4時間半程度のピンラン地区では、行政の指示上、30人以上の人が集まらないように5日間に分けて3か所（イーミー村、ピングルン、ティギット村）で配布。ヤックソクは、タウンジーから車で2時間のところにあり、3か所（ピンファイト村、ヤダナルポーネ村、マギン僧院）での配布を行いました。

パンデミックの影響で前例のない一年となりましたが、このような状況だからこそ、少しでも多くの人に笑顔になってほしいとご協力してくださった現地の皆様に心から感謝申し上げる共に、ミャンマーの全国民の安全と民主的な政治体制が早期に回復することを願います。

OWNDAYS Eye Camp is a way of giving back to our fellow Filipinos. Last December 25, 2019, we had our 5th Eye Camp in the Philippines – aiming to help our less fortunate kababayans from Pampanga and shared with them the gift of sight with the help of Apl.de.ap’s team.

OWNDAYS Volunteers, including OWNDAYS CEO, Shuji Tanaka, celebrated their Christmas with the families from Sapang Bato, Pampanga, Philippines. There was a total of 863 participants of the Christmas Party and a total of 150 pairs of glasses were given to those who needed them. The children who attended were also given a total of 1,000 school supplies to support their education. Participants and the volunteers enjoyed the Christmas Party that was held at the residence of Mr. Apl.de.ap.

As we conclude the year 2019, OWNDAYS assures everyone that we will continue to dedicate ourselves to sharing the gift of good vision to those in need through Eye Camp.

The 18th OWNDAYS Eye Camp was held in Pekon, a town in Shan State, Myanmar.

People in Pekon have limited access to healthcare facilities as it is difficult getting to the cities where the main medical institutions are situated. Despite this, Pekon rarely receives relief from charities so the people there were delighted when we visited them for the OWNDAYS Eye Camp.

This eye camp, we distributed approximately 400 pairs of glasses to people of all ages, from children to the elderly. The glasses were fitted with prescription lenses catered to each recipient’s needs and there were both reading glasses and those for viewing far distances. One by one, the eye camp crew carefully adjusted the frame fitting for the recipients and checked to ensure their vision was clear and comfortable.

Similar to previous ones, this OWNDAYS Eye Camp was made possible as a result of the combined effort from various parties. This included our customers around the world whose purchase constituted a portion of the funding for the project, the committee members who liaised with local doctors and schools, the local doctors who conducted eye examination and provided us with the prescription details and finally the OWNDAYS staff in Japan who had taken great care in putting the glasses together. As to the eye camp crew members, we completed the final step of handing over the glasses to the beneficiaries. Beyond being visual aids, these glasses embodied the thoughts of everyone involved in the project, their well-wishes to the needy people of Pekon and our aspiration of making the world look more beautiful through improved vision.

This OWNDAYS Eye Camp gave us an opportunity to establish a closer bond with the people in Myanmar. Moving forward, we will continue to bring our glasses to those in need so they can experience the joy of having brighter, clearer vision.

The 2019 OWNDAYS Eye Camp in the Philippines was organised in collaboration with Lions Clubs International, a non-profit service organization. This time, the eye camp was held in Tondo, Manila, one of the most densely populated places in the Philippines where people often face difficulties in accessing adequate supply of water, housing and proper sanitation.
Besides, the provision of education and health services as well as employment opportunities are also lacking in the area.

This eye camp, we gave out over 200 pairs of prescription glasses to individuals who are troubled by poor vision but are unable to afford glasses. In addition, we donated school supplies, schoolbags, shoes, toys and snacks to the local children.

We hope our effort through the OWNDAYS Eye Camp could help to brighten up people’s lives and create a positive impact in the society. In line with our philosophy of “enriching the lives of people associated with OWNDAYS”, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to helping the less fortunate and to sharing the vision with the world through OWNDAYS Eye Camp.

The 17th OWNDAYS Eye Camp took place in Thailand. It was the first eye camp in the country.

The venue, Kalyanamitsuk Centre, is a rehabilitation centre located in a sub-district of Huai Sai, Chiang Mai. It provides physical therapy for the elderlies and people with disabilities from all over Chiang Mai.
We distributed reading glasses and helped the centre residents with cleaning, maintenance and proper fitting of their glasses. As the Buddhist Lent Day was approaching, we also brought along Buddhists scriptures for them.

The joy of having a good, clear vision is beyond words can describe. Through the OWNDAYS Eye Camp, we have come to recognise the importance of helping people around the world improve their vision so as to enrich their lives.

To this end, we have dedicated a portion of our profits towards helping the less privileged through the OWNDAYS Eye Camp. We will continue our efforts in sharing vision with the world with OWNDAYS glasses.

The 16th OWNDAYS Eye Camp was held in Myanmar, a first in the country.

We distributed prescription glasses to people from around Taunggyi and those living in Inle Lake at the two designated distribution venues. We also gave out stationery and sports equipment to orphans living in a temple at Inle Lake.

We have distributed prescription glasses around the world, starting from India to Nepal, the Philippines and Myanmar this time. Many people in Myanmar, be it children or adults, are deprived of the chance to enjoy a clear vision.

“Sharing the vision with the world.”
This is the motto of the OWNDAYS Eye Camp. To this end, we will continue travelling across borders to bring prescription glasses to those in need. Instead of simply sending prescription glasses over, we choose to hand the glasses out to the recipients in person in order to witness and share their joy of finally having crystal clear vision.

We will continue to give out prescription glasses to the less privileged individuals in Myanmar so as to enrich their lives and help them see a clearer future.

The 15th OWNDAYS Eye Camp was held in Dhading District of Nepal.

From the capital city, Kathmandu, we drove 3 hours through winding, rocky roads to get to Jogimara where we distributed prescription glasses to the local people. We also gave out stationery and toys to children studying at a primary school situated within steep mountainous terrain.
Being our 4th eye camp there and having interacted with the local people several times, we have come to forged a stronger bond with both the adults and the children in Nepal. It was a great experience which we could not have acquired in our day-to-day lives at home and it had definitely contributed to our personal growth.

People living in mountainous regions often face issues such as poor accessibility and the lack of daily necessities. Besides, there are still many underprivileged people around the world who are unable to afford glasses or any form of visual corrective aid.
We have dedicated a portion of our profits to help these underprivileged people through the OWNDAYS Eye Camp. Guided by our philosophy of enriching the lives of people associated with OWNDAYS, we will continue to travel across borders to distribute prescription glasses and to share vision with the world.

The 12th OWNDAYS Eye Camp was held in Nepal.

There were 2 distribution venues this time. We first distributed prescription glasses at Malekhu, a small town that is an hour’s drive away from the capital city of Kathmandu. After which, we headed to Town Beni Ghat where we gave out toys and stationery to the children living there.

Being situated in the mountainous inland areas, economic growth in Malekhu and Beni Ghat has been slow. Public facilities are inadequate and supplies are usually limited due to transportation constraints. Many living in both towns face difficulties in obtaining daily necessities.
Through OWNDAYS Eye Camp, we were able to provide support, albeit just a small amount, to the needy people.

We have dedicated a portion of our global profits to help people who are less privileged. By doing so, we hope to enrich their lives. To us, each OWNDAYS Eye Camp is a reinforcement of the importance of our work.
By visiting local communities and giving out relief supplies to the needy people in person, we hope we would be able to enrich the lives of these people.

To this end, we will continue to travel across borders to help people in need through the OWNDAYS Eye Camp.

The 11th OWNDAYS Eye Camp was held in Tandi, a city in the Chitwan District of Nepal.
From the capital city, Kathmandu, we travelled across steep mountains with prescription glasses prepared for needy local people who could not afford glasses. We also brought along books and toys that would be given out in a local school.

There are many ways to contribute to the society. For instance, one could simply send financial or material aids from home. However, in OWNDAYS, we choose to visit local communities in perso　n because we would like to provide the same level of service and quality to the recipients as we would to our customers back home. As we hand over our glasses, we are able to help the recipients adjust the glasses at the same time.

This time, we also raised donations in the form of an in-house virtual currency called OWNDAYS Miles. The donations were exchanged for toys and given out to children from poor families.
The OWNDAYS Eye Camp allows us to meet the local people face to face and to pass them our glasses personally. It is a reminder to us on how we could do our part for people in the world as a company.

In line with our corporate philosophy of enriching the lives of people related to OWNDAYS, we have pledged a portion of our profits to help needy people who are burdened by poor eyesight.
We will continue to provide prescription glasses to those in need through OWNDAYS Eye Camp.

The 10th OWNDAYS Eye Camp was held in Taiwan. This was the first time the project was conducted there. We collaborated with Breeze Charity Foundation and distributed prescription glasses to the children in need.

We met many children from low income families who were unable to afford eyeglasses. This encounter has reminded us yet again that OWNDAYS is more than just an eyewear retailer. We are also helping to enrich the lives of others by bringing them a clearer, brighter future.

This OWNDAYS Eye Camp in Taiwan has brought us new encounters and reminded us the importance of having good vision. Let’s continue making a difference by sharing the vision with the world.

The 9th OWNDAYS Eye Camp was held in Cabalawan, Tacloban City, the Philippines in collaboration with Lions Club International and The Gift of Sight by Robinsons Malls.

In November 2013, the once beautiful city, formerly known as “The Beautiful City By The Bay”, was wrecked by the deadly Typhoon Haiyan. 4 years on, many people are still living in makeshift homes. The road to the city’s revival seems slow and difficult.

This time, we gave out eyeglasses to the needy people living in Cabalawan district of Tacloban. We also brought pictures books and toys for the children. We hope our OWNDAYS glasses could bring a little sunshine and joy to their lives.

In line with our philosophy of “enriching the lives of people associated with OWNDAYS”, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to helping the less fortunate and to sharing the vision with the world through OWNDAYS Eye Camp.

The 7th OWNDAYS Eye Camp was held in the Philippines. In partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc., the Eye Camp Team identified towns with the greatest need for vision correction before embarking on the mission. This was the first Eye Camp in the country and would definitely not be the last.
We distributed prescription eyeglasses to 200 children and adults. The recipients shared stories about the difficulties they experienced every day and how OWNDAYS Eye Camp could change their lives. We were very excited that we could help give them a clearer and more beautiful vision.

Through the OWNDAYS Eye Camp, we have met many people who require eyeglasses but are unable to obtain a pair due to financial difficulties. From children to adults, we hope to continue these efforts in enriching the lives of people through our eyeglasses. What we do day by day is more than merely selling eyeglasses, it is to give others the ability to see clearly. We are grateful to have another heart-warming experience in the OWNDAYS Eye Camp. In line with our mission of sharing vision with the world, we strive to continue making a difference to the world.

One year since the first OWNDAYS Eye Camp. This was our 6th Eye Camp and we returned to Madurai, India, the place where it was first held.

There were 4 distribution venues this time. We distributed glasses to the residents in Andar Kottaram Village, Ambethkar Nagar Village, Kathakinaru Village as well as students in a school in Kathakinaru Village.
At present, there are many people who require glasses but are unable to obtain a pair. We wish to do our part to help improve this situation no matter how small our effort may be. One person at a time, we hope from the bottom of our hearts that our glasses would put a smile on the Indian people.

In line with our mission to enrich the lives of everyone related to OWNDAYS, we will continue to do our part in order to share the wonders and joy of “being able to see clearly” with the world.

In 2015, Nepal was hit by a deadly earthquake of an estimated 7.8 magnitude. It was a dreadful disaster that brought many buildings down in shatters, led to landslides and even triggered an avalanche.
With the thought of helping people in affected areas acquire good vision while they rebuild their homeland, we headed to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal for the 4th installment of the OWNDAYS Eye Camp.

This time, we brought along approximately 150 pairs of glasses with customised prescriptions for the recipients and we called upon OWNDAYS staff from around the world to go on this expedition in Nepal.
As we handed out the glasses, the Nepali people also gave us their widest smiles in return. Some put their palms together in a prayer like gesture while others held and shook our hands. Despite differences in language, we could feel their immense happiness and gratitude upon receiving the glasses.

We hope our efforts of giving out glasses to those who cannot afford it could contribute to the rebuilding of Nepal.
Everyone should have a chance to enjoy a clear vision and we aim to make this happen. We hope to enrich the lives of people around us through the gift of sight, step by step, one person after another.

6,800 km from Japan.
In the rural parts of India, facilities available for eye examinations are often inadequate. As a result, many people living in these areas are unable to correct their vision.
To help these people overcome the problems and inconveniences caused by poor vision, OWNDAYS organized a volunteer expedition to Sakkimangalam Village, located in Madurai, a major city in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India, where staff from the different countries came together to deliver glasses to the local communities there. Approximately 100 pairs of prescription glasses were given out to people from 6 to 80 years old.

We cannot help but to reminisce in the joy we saw on these people’s faces when they could finally see clearly with their new glasses. Indeed, the joy of having good vision transcends borders and cultural differences.
From children to adults, we hope to continue our efforts in enriching the lives of people around us through OWNDAYS glasses. Whether it is one person or one thousand people, we hope we can make a difference to their lives.