OPTOGLOBE Donates Trial Lens Case to Kaimosi Friends University Optometry Students
In partnership with Optometry Giving Sight, OPTOGLOBE strengthens hands-on diagnostic training for the next generation of eye care professionals in Kenya.
On May 31, 2026, in Kakamega, Kenya, OPTOGLOBE marked another meaningful milestone in its commitment to global optometry education. OPTOGLOBE Founder Pemije Gadimoh formally presented a trial lens case to Givern Marire, President of the Kaimosi Friends University Optometry Student Association (KAFUOSA) — a moment that reflects the heart of what the Equipping the Future (ETF) Initiative was created to achieve.
Event at a Glance
May 31, 2026
Kakamega, Kenya
KAFUOSA — Kaimosi Friends University Optometry Student Association
Trial Lens Case
Pemije Gadimoh, Founder, OPTOGLOBE
Givern Marire, President, KAFUOSA
Equipping the Future (ETF)
Optometry Giving Sight
Bridging the Instrument Gap in Optometry Education
Across low- and middle-income countries, one of the most persistent challenges facing optometry students is access to clinical diagnostic instruments. A trial lens case — a fundamental tool used in refraction, prescription determination, and the hands-on training that defines clinical competence — should be available to every student who has chosen a career in eye care. For too many, it is not.
OPTOGLOBE’s Equipping the Future Initiative was designed precisely to address this gap. Supported by a grant from Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), the initiative is grounded in real data: the ETF Global Needs Assessment Survey, which has gathered over 350 responses from optometry students across 13 countries, consistently shows that limited access to personal and shared clinical instruments is a critical barrier to quality training and patient care readiness.
“When a student cannot practise with the tools they will use throughout their entire career, the impact is felt long after graduation — by the communities they serve, and by the patients whose sight depends on accurate, confident clinical care.”
The Presentation: Kakamega, Kenya — May 31, 2026
The donation ceremony took place in Kakamega, western Kenya, where Pemije Gadimoh — Founder of OPTOGLOBE-The Global Optometry Student Community and an optometry student at the University of Benin, Nigeria, personally handed the trial lens case to Givern Marire, the elected President of the Kaimosi Friends University Optometry Student Association.
The moment was more than a handover. It represented the tangible output of months of survey work, partnership development, and advocacy carried out by OPTOGLOBE in collaboration with Optometry Giving Sight. For KAFUOSA, one of OPTOGLOBE’s member associations, it is a direct investment in the clinical preparation of its students and the long-term capacity of eye care in the region.
“Every student deserves to learn with the instruments they will depend on for life. This donation is not just equipment, it is opportunity, dignity, and a statement that optometry students in Africa matter.”
Pemije Gadimoh, Founder, OPTOGLOBE
About KAFUOSA and Kaimosi Friends University
Kaimosi Friends University, located in Vihiga County, western Kenya, is one of the growing institutions shaping optometry education on the continent. Its optometry student association, KAFUOSA, is a member of OPTOGLOBE’s 52-country network of student associations — a community united by a shared mission to advance optometry education, access, and advocacy globally.
Under the leadership of Givern Marire, KAFUOSA has demonstrated active engagement in both its academic community and the broader professional landscape. The receipt of this trial lens case adds a tangible clinical resource to the association’s capacity and underscores the value of being part of a globally connected student network.
The Equipping the Future Initiative
The Equipping the Future (ETF) Initiative is OPTOGLOBE’s flagship programme aimed at improving diagnostic instrument access for optometry students in low- and middle-income countries. The initiative is built on three pillars:
EVIDENCE- The ETF Global Needs Assessment Survey documents the real gaps in instrument access across OPTOGLOBE’s member countries — providing the data needed to advocate, to apply for funding, and to target support where it is most needed.
PARTNERSHIP- Through collaboration with Optometry Giving Sight and other global vision health organisations, OPTOGLOBE is able to translate data into direct action — including donations of instruments, stipends, and capacity-building resources.
IMPACT- Each instrument donated is not a single gift — it is a resource that will be used by students throughout their training and, in many cases, carried into clinical practice. The ripple effect of improving access today is measured in patients seen and sight preserved for years to come.
The ETF Global Needs Assessment Survey has now collected responses from optometry students across 13 countries, forming a rich evidence base that continues to drive OPTOGLOBE’s advocacy, partnerships, and resource allocation.
About OPTOGLOBE
Founded on April 7, 2024, OPTOGLOBE — The Global Optometry Student Community is a student-led international organisation bringing together member optometry student associations across countries. OPTOGLOBE’s work spans student advocacy, global health partnerships, professional development, and community outreach united by the belief that optometry students, everywhere, deserve to be equipped, heard, and connected.
OPTOGLOBE’s institutional partners include Optometry Giving Sight, VOSH International, the World Council of Optometry, and the Arclight Project.
About Optometry Giving Sight
Optometry Giving Sight is a global fundraising initiative that supports the development of sustainable eye care programs in areas of greatest need. By funding training programs and outreach initiatives, Optometry Giving Sight is addressing the root cause of avoidable blindness and vision impairment — the lack of trained eye care professionals and access to services. The ETF Initiative was made possible through grant support from Optometry Giving Sight.
What This Moment Means for the Future
The donation to KAFUOSA is part of a broader vision. As OPTOGLOBE prepares for its Third Global Optometry Student Summit (July 9–12, 2026), and as the ETF Survey data continues to grow, initiatives like this affirm that student-led action can produce real, measurable change in optometry education infrastructure across the Global South.
OPTOGLOBE remains committed to expanding the reach of the Equipping the Future Initiative — identifying additional member associations with critical instrument needs, deepening its partnerships with global eye health organisations, and ensuring that no optometry student is left without the tools they need to serve their communities.
“To Givern and every student at KAFUOSA — this trial lens case belongs to you. Use it. Learn from it. One day, use it to change someone’s life.”
Pemije Gadimoh, Founder, OPTOGLOBE
If your optometry student association is interested in learning more about the Equipping the Future Initiative, the ETF Global Needs Assessment Survey, or OPTOGLOBE membership, please reach out to us at enquiries@optoglobe.org.
