We are making real progress in building a very professional team for our CMIRC School Vision Screening Project! But, unfortunately, due to the continued resurgence of Covid-19 in Chiang Mai, we faced delays in restarting the screenings this Rotary Year. We are now planning to resume our school-based screenings during the 2022-2023 school year. We hope to screen all 3rd and 5th graders at the eleven municipal schools and the Wat Suan Dok School in partnership with Optician Khun One at Chom Jun Optic, and in consultation with Ophthalmologist Dr. Nickie at Saint Peter Eye Hospital for problems of strabismus and amblyopia (crossed eyes and lazy eye), and, if pediatric ophthalmological surgery is needed, the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North’s Eye Service Foundation. We will continue to rely upon the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai Wattana for volunteer assistance and for coordinating a screening program at the Wat Suan Dok School.
The new school year begins in May, but we feel it best to wait to start the screening until the year is well underway. So, we plan to train our volunteers in July and begin the screenings in August. We hope to have one screening per week for a period of twelve weeks, so that all eleven municipal schools and the Wat Suan Dok School can be screened before the end of December.
Our CMIRC SVSP recently had the opportunity to meet with the new Directors of Education and Administration at the Chiang Mai Municipal Schools. CMIRC Honorary Member and SVSP co-chair Phijitra Schorr (pictured, below, in the white blouse, gesturing with her left hand) had the opportunity to explain the SVSP program to these new administrators and there were assurances of full support.
Good news about future funding for the CMIRC SVSP, Fred Peck our good friend at the Rotary Club Spokane 21 has informed me that his club is making progress seeking a Rotary District 5080 Grant for our SVSP! The final budget request will exceed US$ 5,000, and will allow us to examine and treat younger children (K-2nd-grade) with strabismus and amblyopia where early intervention is critical.
Once again, we’d like to take this opportunity to recognize the generous support of our partners, sponsors and donors, so here is a list of these generous organizations, beginning with the Rotary Club of Spokane 21 whose donation of $2,500 this past year will be rolled over to fund about 50% of our standard program next year !! THANK YOU ROTARY CLUB of SPOKANE 21!!! If you wish to learn how you can help, please contact Project Champion John Schorr at schoolvision@cmirotary.org or tel.: +66 (0)8 5030 2143, US Skype # 386 490-8100 or co-chair Phijitra Schorr, ไทย if you’d like to volunteer and be trained to help with screening.
CMIRC Member Volunteer Hours for the Month of March, 2022: 25 hours (Co-Chairs - 10, Committee Members - 5, Volunteers - 10).
Our 2022 School Vision Screening Donor Team