Staff help Russian children
Bausch & Lomb employees have welcomed 26 visually impaired children from the Vasilivichi orphanage as they begin their annual three-week holiday in Waterford for the ninth year running.
Employees at the eye-care facility have so far contributed more than €300,000 to help the blind and visually impaired children in Vasilivichi, close to the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
The children, accompanied by two teachers and two interpreters, have met with many of the employees who make weekly contributions to the Vision for Vasilivichi charity through payroll deductions.
Afterwards, the children met one of the greyhounds which will be competing at a gala race-night at Kilcohan Park on Friday, July 16, with the proceeds going towards the fund.
The charity was established in 1995 when Bausch & Lomb employees paid for an ambulance and delivered it to Belarus. They also brought other necessities to the school and saw the poor conditions that prevailed.
Vision for Vasilivichi sought to use Bausch & Lomb’s expertise as an eye-care company for the benefit of the children and also to tap the goodwill of employees.
Committee member Vivienne Burke said funding comes mainly from employee wage deductions. “We have a significant partner in the World Mercy Fund who provided a grant for the continuation of our work.”
The children will stay in student accommodation at WIT during the week. Many opticians and dentists are offering their services free to help the children.
