Thank You Brian J Toye Optometrist Exmouth

Exmouth’s Brian J Toye Optometrists in Rolle Street has been collecting no-longer-needed spectacles from their customers and has donated hundreds of pairs to Janta Bi!

They are also sourcing unwanted hearing-aids for us, which will all make a huge difference to people in the Gambia. Things like spectacles and hearing-aids are virtually impossible to find out there and, with a pair of glasses costing around two months’ wages, beyond the means of most.

Where do the glasses go?

This month, the boxes of glasses donated by Brian J Toye’s kind customers, have travelled over 3,000 miles by car, container ship and motorbike and made their way upriver to schools with Janta Bi’s very own, Babucar Khan.

Babucar Khan is a special educational needs teacher who travels on his motorbike to teach at remote schools in the Gambia. We first met him on a trip to Jockul N’dowen School, which he was visiting that day. He has no funding and no equipment – so we try to support him where we can.

Wheelchairs and walking aids

We’re also on the lookout for crutches and Zimmer frames for the children and the villagers. So far, we’ve sent over 20 pairs of crutches, and 10 Zimmer frames. These have proved life-changing, enabling disabled children to attend school and older villagers to help out their families.

Currently, we purchase these from Exmouth’s recycling centre, and have recently had two wheelchairs donated from Taunton. However, we always need more so, if you happen to know of any, please get in touch. In addition, if you have any glasses, hearing aids or other walking aids to donate, or know of anyone who does, please go to our Contact Page.

Alternatively, you can donate to us using PayPal. Every penny helps.

For further information on our work, our team and how you can help, browse the Janta Bi website. For up-to-date news on our work, follow us on Facebook.

Thank you