Sunglasses in Sunglasses in Elementary Schools Elementary Schools

Social Entrepreneurship ProjectAnnisa Pirasteh

PurposePurpose

The purpose of this social entrepreneurship project is to implement a non-project organization that strives to provide sunglasses with UV protection to classrooms in elementary schools. This will be done to improve vision in young children and to help prevent serious eye problems, such as cataracts. Also, it will teach young children better preventative methods in protecting their eyes.

Funding Funding

Funding for this project will come from the help of several different major sunglass companies, such as Ray-Ban. This will benefit the sunglasses company in their non-profit promotion and overall general image. They will help to oversee production of these sunglasses and ensure that the product lives up to the standards of every other sunglasses that is made by them. While we will be working with sunglass companies, we will still stand alone as a non-profit organization.

Funding (2) Funding (2)

In an order to remain “green friendly” and sustainable, the non-profit will work with recycling companies in an effort to use recycled bottles, and other plastic recyclables in the production of the eyewear. This will benefit the non-profit in that it lives up to the popularity of the green movement, and does not cause further damage to the earth. It also teaches children the importance or recycling.

Classroom Implementation Classroom Implementation

In order to get children to actually use the sunglasses, it is essential to make them fun and friendly. With the help of Ray-Ban and other sunglass companies, the sunglasses will be made with the basic necessities, that being UV protection and a sturdy frame that will fit young children's’ faces. The sunglasses will then be given basic popular colors such as red, blue, pink, purple and green to spark the children’s interest….

Classroom Implementation (2)Classroom Implementation (2)

The sunglasses will then be placed in every classroom grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. They will be made a part of the classroom setting so as to keep the child excited and engaged. They will be handed out to each child as they leave to go to recess. Students in the earlier grades, such as kindergarten, spend up to an hour or two outside per day so the sunglasses will be an essential part of their classroom experience.

FinancingFinancing

Financing for this project has its limitations. Ray-Ban and other sunglass companies can use the non-profit as a tax write off. Fundraising and discussion with children’s hospitals and other organization that work on the improvement of children’s vision will be needed in order to fund shipping and final touches on the sunglasses. We hope that the bulk of our funding is done by the sunglass companies themselves, since we are building sunglasses that are cheap and easily disposable [in our case recyclable]. The purpose is to make sturdy sunglasses for as cheap as possible.

Hopes For The Project Hopes For The Project

The hope for this non-profit organization is a simple one. It is that of teaching young children to take care of their eyes. Just as dentists visit schools and pass out toothbrushes to teach children good dental hygiene, it is essential that children take care of their eyes, because they only get one pair. Studies show that the vision of children today is far worse than the that of generations before them. With computers, cell-phones, iPods, and other electronic devices entering children's lives, it is important to start preventative protection early and that is the hope of this non-profit organization.