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Uxbridge photographer takes sight to Africa
Aug 17, 2007 By: Jeff Hayward(Originally published Aug. 11, 2005)
UXBRIDGE - A local resident was so touched after seeing Africa that she wanted its people to be able to see it again, too.
Nina Linton of Uxbridge recently returned from a six-week adventure travelling to parts of Africa including Ghana and Sierra Leone. This was the fourth trip to the country for the aspiring photographer, who went originally to photograph the refugee camps there.
This time she went back with her camera and 100 pairs of eyeglasses to give out to the needy overseas.
Ms. Linton said she funded the travel expenses out of her own pocket, but had struck an agreement with Connecticut-based organizers Unite for Sight.
"(Unite for Sight) let me have access to their programs in Ghana and Sierra Leone, and in exchange for that privilege I gave them quality photos to use for their publications and website," she added.
She noted that some of the eyeglasses were donated by Uxbridge businesses and residents. She had posted flyers before the trip to raise awareness about her efforts.
The eyeglasses were taken to needy people in the areas she visited, explained Ms. Linton. Doctors did assessments of patient’s vision needs and also performed surgery, if needed, at a local private clinic.
"Some of the (patients) were over 80 years old and had never had their eyes tested," she said. "They were able to go home and see their families again."
Although Ms. Linton said it was overall a "good experience", she said she also witnessed a lot of misfortune during her most recent trip.
She hopes the impact of her Africa images will help get more people involved in the future.
"For many people, the reality comes through a photograph. You can step into an AIDS ward in Togo, or see the tears of frustration run down the cheek of an orphaned refugee child in Ghana," explained Ms. Linton. "If a photo I take can move one person to donate to... Unite for Sight or prompt someone to get involved in the world around them, I know I have succeeded," she concluded.
To read more about the project, visit www.uniteforsight.org.
