As I write this, I’m still processing the incredible transformation we witnessed during our recent mission trips to Tanzania and Costa Rica. For the past 15 years, we’ve traveled to Tanzania building classrooms, soccer fields, and distributing shoes to children in need. But this year, we embarked on something entirely new that has left an indelible mark on our mission—and I can’t wait to share it with you.
A Revolutionary Partnership
This year, Think Kindness partnered with Global Vision 2020, an organization founded by retired U.S. Marine Kevin White to address what may be the world’s largest unmet disability: poor vision. Using their innovative USee Vision Kit™, trained volunteers can provide prescription eyeglasses in remote locations within minutes.
The statistics are staggering—globally, uncorrected refractive error affects over 160 million people and is the leading cause of vision impairment worldwide. For children, research shows that vision difficulties can reduce standardized test performance by up to two percent. Yet this is entirely preventable with something as simple as a pair of glasses.
Costa Rica: Hearts Opened Wide
Working alongside Beyond The Known Costa Rica, we visited three churches and feeding centers. On our first distribution day, over 75 people—mostly children—formed a line around the building. By trip’s end, we had screened hundreds and distributed over 180 pairs of glasses.
The stories that emerged were both heartbreaking and hopeful:
- Children suffering in silence who had been experiencing daily headaches because their “eyes hurt”
- Teachers who approached us about students who couldn’t read the blackboard
- An 80-year-old grandfather who had lived with blurry vision for 60 years—watching him see his grandchildren clearly for the first time brought tears to all our eyes
What many don’t realize is that while Costa Rica provides universal healthcare, the country has only 134 ophthalmologists serving nearly 5 million people. These specialists work primarily in major cities, leaving rural communities—where poverty rates are highest—without access to basic vision care.seeintl
Tanzania: Continuing Our Legacy
At the Amani Children’s Home, where we’ve worked for years supporting rescued street children, our team screened every child and provided over 20 pairs of glasses. Amani serves over 250 vulnerable children annually, focusing on holistic care that addresses education, health, and emotional well-being—making vision screening a perfect addition to our ongoing support.
Building Lasting Change
The true power of our Global Vision 2020 partnership lies in sustainability. We left screening kits in both locations and trained local teams to continue the work. The results speak for themselves: since our departure, the Costa Rica team has already provided an additional 180+ pairs of glasses—doubling our impact!
The Ripple Effect of Clear Sight
While statistics matter, the true impact goes far beyond numbers. When a child can suddenly see the blackboard clearly, their entire educational trajectory changes. When a grandmother can see her family’s faces, relationships deepen. When a community gains access to vision care, economic opportunities multiply.
This perfectly aligns with Think Kindness’s mission of creating measurable acts of kindness that ripple outward to transform communities. Vision care is perhaps the ultimate act of kindness—giving someone the gift of sight is giving them the gift of opportunity, education, and connection.
Looking Forward
Our new project represents a fundamental expansion of Think Kindness’s global impact. We’re not just building infrastructure—we’re removing barriers that prevent children from accessing education and families from escaping poverty.
With 2.5 billion people worldwide lacking access to optometrists, the need has never been greater. Every $5 can provide prescription glasses to someone in need. Every $200 can fund vision screening for an entire classroom.
But perhaps most importantly, every person who joins our mission trips becomes an ambassador for kindness, returning home with stories that inspire their communities to action.
Join Our Vision
Sometimes the simplest solutions create the most profound change. A pair of glasses costing just a few dollars can unlock a lifetime of opportunities. A vision screening taking just minutes can change everything.
This is the power of kindness in action. This is the impact of bringing sight to the world.
With gratitude and clear vision,
Brian Williams
Founder, Think Kindness
P.S. Our next global mission trips are already in planning. If you’ve ever considered joining us to make a direct impact on communities around the world, I’d love to connect with you about this life-changing opportunity.