Vision for Every Child

AN INITIATIVE TO SCREEN CHILDREN, CORRECT THEIR VISION & CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR EDUCATION.

Undetected and untreated vision problems can become a significant barrier to a child's learning and development. Difficulty seeing the blackboard, reading classroom material or participating fully in school can affect academic performance and confidence, particularly when access to routine eye care is limited.
To address this gap, Project Rise, in partnership with CBM India Trust, has launched the Vision for Every Child initiative, an inclusive school eye health programme designed to bring comprehensive eye care closer to children in government schools across Howrah, West Bengal and Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.
The four-month programme combines school-based eye screening with spectacles, specialist referrals, treatment support, preventive eye-health education and teacher training, creating a complete pathway from early identification to appropriate care.

Reaching children through schools

The initiative aims to reach 20,000 schoolchildren across more than 30 government schools in Howrah and Sehore.

By taking eye screening directly into schools, the programme helps identify children who may otherwise remain undiagnosed and ensures that those requiring further care can be connected to appropriate services.

Few of the government schools covered that will be a part of the screening programme in Howrah include Khila Gopimohan Sikshaya Sadan, Talbandi Belayet Ali High School, Brahmampara Chintamani Institution, Nayachak Jadunath High School, Dafarpur Prabartak Vidyamandir, Liluah TRG Khemka School and Howrah Urdu Girls High School, among others.

Target:

 20,000 schoolchildren across 30+ government schools

Teacher Training:

200+ teachers

Key Support:

Screening, free spectacles, specialist referrals, treatment and paediatric surgical support, preventive eye-health education and follow-up

Key Interventions

School Eye Screening

Children receive comprehensive eye screenings within their schools to identify refractive errors and other potential vision problems at an early stage.

Free Spectacles

Children identified as requiring corrective glasses will receive spectacles free of cost, helping them see clearly and participate more effectively in classroom learning.

Specialist Referrals

Children requiring further examination or specialised treatment will be referred to appropriate eye-care professionals and facilities.

Treatment & Surgical Support

For children diagnosed with conditions requiring additional intervention, the programme will provide treatment support, including paediatric eye surgery where necessary.

Preventive Eye-Health Education

Students receive guidance on eye health and practices that can support better visual well-being and encourage early reporting of vision difficulties.

Teacher Training

More than 200 teachers will be trained to recognise signs of possible visual impairment in the classroom—such as difficulty reading from a distance, struggling with classroom material or other changes in visual behaviour.

Follow-up & Continuity of Care

The programme goes beyond initial screening by establishing a pathway for referral, treatment and follow-up, helping ensure that identified vision problems are appropriately addressed.

A Complete Pathway of Care
A central feature of Vision for Every Child is its emphasis on moving beyond screening alone. The programme follows a continuum of:

Screen → Identify → Refer → Treat → Follow Up

This approach helps ensure that children identified with vision difficulties are not simply diagnosed but are connected to the care they require.
Impact at a Glance
  • 20,000

Schoolchildren to receive eye screenings

  • 30+

Government schools to be covered

  • 200+

Teachers to receive eye-health training

  • 4 months

Duration of the programme

  • Free spectacles

For children identified as requiring corrective glasses

  • Specialist & surgical support

For children requiring further treatment

WHY EARLY EYE CARE MATTERS

For a child, an undetected vision problem can affect much more than eyesight. Difficulty seeing the blackboard or reading books can lead to challenges in learning, classroom participation and confidence.
Many childhood vision conditions can be detected through a simple screening and, where appropriate, addressed through spectacles or timely specialist care. By integrating eye health into the school environment, Vision for Every Child seeks to identify these challenges early, before they become obstacles to a child's education.

STRENGTHENING SCHOOL-BASED EYE HEALTH

The initiative also complements existing public health efforts, including India's National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
By working with schools, healthcare professionals and established eye-health partners, the programme seeks to strengthen awareness and referral pathways while making eye care more accessible to children from underserved communities.

A PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH & EDUCATION

The collaboration between Project Rise and CBM India Trust brings together expertise in healthcare, education and inclusive development. Working alongside schools, teachers and healthcare professionals allows the programme to address vision impairment as both a health concern and an important factor influencing educational opportunity.
Through this initiative, Project Rise seeks to help ensure that a child's ability to learn is not limited by an undiagnosed or untreated vision problem.
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