Once struggling in Grade 7 with deteriorating vision, a strict teacher and the fear of judgment, a determined 15-year-old found her courage through a little help and a simple pair of glasses.
Eastern Cape, South Africa (11 June 2025) – A pair of glasses. That is what it took for a young girl in a small Eastern Cape town to regain her confidence and unlock her potential.
Babalo Mhlaba was a young girl in Grade 7 when she first experienced issues with her vision in 2022. Initially, she brushed it off, believing her eyesight would return to normal since she had never had any issues before. But it didn’t.
“Last year, after my birthday in June, I realised that I sometimes feel a burning sensation in my eyes. From that I got near-sighted,” Babalo explained.
Growing up in a judgmental society, the 15-year-old girl often thought that she would be judged if she were seen wearing glasses.
“I would disturb the class and ask my desk mate what’s written there [on the board], and my teacher would scold me. To a point where I thought I should just go to the Grace Vision organisation because I know that I will get the help that I need. That my sight would be restored,” the teen said.
Taking the brave step to seek assistance was her way of taking ownership of life and finding a solution to the daily challenges that dimmed her potential, even if it meant getting strange looks from others.
Although she was admittedly nervous about the eye testing process and the overall outcome, she went ahead.
After struggling with significant visual impairment, Babalo was screened, treated, and fitted with prescription glasses by the Grace Vision Rural Schools Outreach team, and everything changed. Today, Babalo is thriving in high school.
On a recent follow-up visit to the Grace Vision mobile clinic, Babalo was almost unrecognisable, radiating confidence, her smile lighting up the room.
She now dreams of pursuing further studies and becoming a leader in her community. All it took was a simple pair of glasses to unlock her vision, and her future.
Sources: Grace Vision
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