The Amakhosi in conjunction with the Gauteng government, The South African Guide Dogs Association and a number of other institutions and sunglass manufactures, have endorsed the ‘Shades for a day campaign’.

This is an initiative supported by the South African Optometric Association, aimed at educating people particularly younger children about general eye care and the dangers of the sun’s Ultra Violet Rays.

It was with this in mind that The Amakhosi travelled to the Phandulwazi Primary School on the outskirts of Mogale City (formerly Randfontein) on Friday to, promote the ‘Shades for a day’ event, which will be taking place around the country on October 20th. The team was greeted by a rousing welcome from the learners, who formed a guard of honour to welcome the players off the bus and into the assembly area.

At the event Faith Chabedi, a Gauteng Government Director of public health and the vice president of the South African optometric association, gave an animated, energetic and colourful address to the learners.

As she educated them on taking protective cover from the sun when playing outdoors, particularly in the blazing heat of the summer months which are upon us.

Chabedi said, “not all kids can afford sunglasses therefore along with a number of sunglass manufacturers we will be handing out protective eye ware at schools around the country. Apart from wearing sunglasses I also told them to wear a cap when playing outside, with the depletion of the ozone layer the sun rays is getting stronger all the time and we want as much as possible to inform schools about the dangers these pose to them”.

Zindzi Mandela, the daughter of former President Nelson Mandela, was a guest speaker at the event and quoted her famous and well-respected father when she said, “a family member of mine who was a prisoner, a state president and is now a pensioner, once said that you can judge a nation by the way they care for their kids, and for Kaizer Chiefs and the other groups who have teamed up for this project to educate kids on eye care. Demonstrates this nations love for their kids, and their well being”.

Chiefs spokesperson for the day Fabian McCarthy added, “we do not really ever think of a life without sight, but it can happen if we do not look after ourselves I never knew before I was educated on Friday by faith that exposure to the sun could damage your cornea in your eyes to such an extent that one could lose their sight. For us to get involved in projects like this one makes a difference to the lives of people at community and local level is always a pleasure.”

The Amakhosi are urging their supporters to purchase a special ‘Shades For a day sticker’ at cost of R5 from participating optometrist, the proceeds of which will go towards various eye care research institutes as well as in programmes educating schools on ways of taking protection from the sun. The Chiefs before departing from the school handed over their contributions, for the shades for a day course and also gave contributions for their teammates currently away on international duty.