Jonga Trust: A ray of hope for the townships of Cape Town

Social commitment does not end with professional life. As a long-time supporter and close friend of Andreas Kremer, Klaus Elias has been involved in numerous initiatives over the years, which are primarily supported by local stakeholders. These include the Jonga Trust, an organization dedicated to providing eye care in the townships of Cape Town. KiKxxl has also supported the organization and contributed to the further development of the Jonga Trust with a donation.

The Jonga Trust was founded by ophthalmologists Dr. Chris Eksteen and Dr. Josephine Graham as well as committed private individuals. The aim is to meet the immense need for eye care in the townships. The word “Jonga” comes from the indigenous Xhosa language and means “I can see” – an apt name that perfectly reflects the initiative’s mission: To help people improve their eyesight and thus sustainably increase their quality of life.

An estimated 3-4 million people of color (BIPoC) live in difficult conditions in South African townships. Poor nutrition, environmental influences and inadequate lighting in the dwellings mean that poor eyesight and eye diseases are widespread. Children and young people are particularly affected, as their educational opportunities are severely limited by visual impairments. Without appropriate visual aids, they are often denied access to education and thus the opportunity for a better future.

This is precisely where the Jonga Trust comes in. With free eye tests for all those in need, the initiative ensures that visual impairments are detected at an early stage. Anyone who needs glasses is provided with them free of charge, and any necessary operations are also covered. The aim is to expand the initiative, which is currently active in two townships, to four or five, set up additional examination rooms and hire assistants and an ophthalmologist in order to reach even more people.

The special thing about this organization is that it is financed entirely by private donations and the funds flow 1:1 directly into the projects. This was also a decisive factor for us at KiKxxl, which is why we decided to support the Jonga Trust with a donation of 3,000 euros.

In order to really understand where help is most urgently needed, Klaus Elias and other supporters attach great importance to gaining a real impression on the ground, learning more and understanding how and where they can help in concrete terms.

Seeing means life and future. The Jonga Trust does valuable work to give people new perspectives through better eyesight. If you would also like to help, you can make a donation to help even more people see through – in every respect.