New vision in the Stellenbosch winelands

Primary eye in the Cape Winelands is about to be revolutionised through oDocs Eye Care, in collaboration with The Pebbles Project.

oDocs Eye Care is a social enterprise which designs and produces professional, portable eye care adaptors for anyone with a smartphone. A partnership between oDocs and the Stellenbosch-based non-profit organisation, Pebbles Project, will have a significant impact on the development and future of children from the Cape Winelands.

The main emphasis of the Pebbles Project is education. Since its inception in 2004, Pebbles Project has impacted the lives of children and their families by providing support and intervention in five key areas: Education, Health, Nutrition, Community and Protection.

The technology from oDocs Eye Care will now allow The Pebbles Project to provide primary eye care through Pebbles’ established network of aftercare school facilities, mobile medical clinics and community programmes.

According to oDocs Eye Care co-founder and L’Avenir Wine Estate ambassador, Ben O’Keeffe, the opportunity was identified to provide eye care through Pebbles Project, as part of oDoc’s pledge to contribute half our net profits toward saving sight in the markets that need it the most.

“Through my intimate involvement with the Pebbles Afterschool Care Center, I have witnessed the sterling work that Pebbles is already doing in terms of education, nutrition and health care. oDos Eye Care can contribute to this by also adding primary eye care, which could end preventable blindness in young children,” explained O’Keeffe.

O’Keeffe has committed to training the Pebbles Project nurses and providing the technology to provide the eye care. “This is in-line with the shared vision of specifically L’Avenir’s Pebbles Project Afterschool Care Centre and oDocs Eye Care, to provide care and opportunities to the next generation,” shared O’Keeffe.

About oDocs Eye Care

oDocs Eye Care is a social enterprise founded and based in New Zealand. oDocs designs and produces professional, portable eye care adaptors for anyone with a smartphone. Their mission is end preventable blindness by making eye care more accessible.

About L’Avenir Wine Estate

L’Avenir Wine Estate is a boutique wine estate in Stellenbosch, which specialises in single vineyard Chenin Blanc and Pinotage.

About Pebbles Project

Pebbles Project enriches the lives of children and families in the Cape Winelands farming communities in the Western Cape.  Since their inception in 2004, Pebbles Projects has impacted the lives of children and their families by providing support and intervention in five key areas: Education, Health, Nutrition, Community and Protection.  

About the L’Avenir Sports Development Project

The L’Avenir Sports Development Project is pioneering sports development in the Cape Winelands through professional coaching.  Dedicated to creating fair play on and off the pitch, the project uses play to steer youth toward a better life, with better awareness, life skills and ultimately, better opportunities.

Pebbles Project Clinic Manager & Clinical Nurse Practitioner, Sam Adams, L’Avenir Human Resources Director, Rebekka Swiegers, oDocs Eye Care Co-founder, Dr. Benjamin O’Keeffe, Pebbles Project Clinical Nurse Practitioner, Nina de Jager, Advini South Africa Managing Director, Naretha Ricome and Hantie Smit, L’Avenir Pebbles Project pilot.
oDocs Eye Care co-founder, Dr. Benjamin O’Keeffe, with the Pebbles Project Clinic Manager & Clinical Nurse Practitioner, Sam Adams.

For more information contact Dr Edo Heyns – Advini South Africa Strategic Development Manager: Edo.heyns@advinisa.co.za