Moise Ahoussimou all smiles.

The Right to Sight
Story and Photos Contributed by Special Olympics Africa
“Now, I can do sport alone and I will win plenty of medals…,” were the words uttered by Special Olympics Benin athlete Moise Ahoussimou when he gained his sight for the first time in December 2007.

Born and raised in Porto Novo, the capital of the West African country of Benin, Moise Ahoussimou is the fifth of seven children. His intellectual disability and loss of vision due to cataracts deprived him both an education and his freedom as he relied on his tailor father to guide him, while his mother eked out a living selling vegetables at the district market.

Ahoussimou became involved with Special Olympics Benin early in 2007 and never imagined that his participation in sports would ultimately lead to the restoration of his vision. Due to his blindness, 18-year-old Ahoussimou only competed in walking events with a guide but his determination saw him advance to the Special Olympics Benin National Games held in Cotonou from 21-22 December 2007. There, he was exposed not only to quality competition, but also to the Program's first Healthy Athletes event, including MedFest, Health Promotion and Opening Eyes screenings in partnership with the Department of Health and coordinated by three dedicated volunteer Clinical Directors.

Local ophthalmologist Dr. Latif Hounkpatin-Amoussa was trained as the Clinical Director for the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program during a train-the-trainer session in 2006. With the assistance of a small capacity grant from Special Olympics Lions Clubs International, Dr Hounkpatin-Amoussa recruited a team of volunteers who provided vision screening to 285 athletes at the two-day event, prescribing 23 pairs of corrective glasses and diagnosing five young athletes with cataracts in desperate need of surgery. Sponsored globally by Safilo, the Opening Eyes program ensures that all athletes not needing prescription glasses receive a pair of sunglasses while global sponsor Essilor facilitates the edging of prescription lenses free of charge to those in need.

Moise Ahoussimou breaks into a run.

At a glance, Dr Hounkpatin-Amoussa noticed that Ahoussimou came from his home town of Porto Novo and, like his four fellow athletes, poverty was depriving him from receiving this simple yet life-saving procedure. Without hesitation, Dr Hounkpatin-Amoussa immediately scheduled Ahoussimou for surgery at his practice at the first available appointment.

Special Olympics Benin National Director Marie-Jeanne Dagnon-Yalo, or Mum Yalo as she is affectionately known, visited Ahoussimou and his family and prepared them for the pending surgery. It's no wonder thus that Ahoussimou's first words after removing the bandages were “Tell Mum Yalo that now I can see what life is, I can see what the world looks like.”

The extent to which Ahoussimou's life has been changed by this procedure is emphasized every time he speaks, “I can see, I can see trees, I can see houses, I can see the sun…” He challenges his new freedom by running between the houses with a huge grin and grabs his father's hand out of affection rather than need. “Hey! Dad, I didn't know you are that tall!”

Special Olympics Benin's National Director Marie-Jeanne Dagnon-Yalo awards medals to the athletes at their National Games.

On a recent follow-up visit to Ahoussimou and his family, Mum Yalo was inundated by members of the community. The Special Olympics logo on her T-shirt identified her as the person responsible for Ahoussimou's miracle, so side by side, they took the opportunity to muster up support for Special Olympics and reinforce the movement's mission. However, with the evidence before them, it was the ability of Special Olympics, through sports, to directly transform the life of someone who they valued so significantly that resonated the loudest.

Back in his practice, Dr Hounkpatin-Amoussa modestly credits Special Olympics Benin and Healthy Athletes for giving him the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the athletes. "I have seen the excitement in the athletes when they participate in events and even when they get to see a doctor. Personally, as an ophthalmologist, when I committed to assisting with Special Olympics Benin's activities, I noticed that these athletes needed much more from me than I realized. So, I decided to dedicate myself to their benefit as much as I can.” Through individuals like Dr Hounkpatin-Amoussa and Mum Yalo, Special Olympics has created a Program that bears relevance in the developing world, a Program that utilizes sport and ancillary initiatives to reach out and impact this vulnerable population at the most personal level, in their everyday lives.

Opening Eyes Clinical Director Dr. Latif Hounkpatin-Amoussa

Equal to the task, Special Olympics Benin have now begun fundraising to raise the funds required to restore sight to the remaining four athletes early in 2008 in the hope that they too will share Ahoussimou's joy: “Now, I can walk on my own, I can run…Thanks, Doctor!”

Jimmy Ross and Margje Margje van den Hurk, a football (soccer) player from Nuland, Netherlands, gives former Lions Clubs International President Jimmy Ross from Texas, USA, a hug after he helps her pick out a pair of glasses at the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes screening at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Opening Eyes Propels Athlete to Success at World Games
By Evelina Palsson, Special Olympics International Intern
To be able to do your best in sports competition, even with arduous preparation, you need your eyesight. That's why Margje van den Hurk, a 21-year-old football (soccer) player from Nuland, Netherlands, was as glad for her new glasses as for the bronze medal her team won during the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai—maybe even happier.

Thanks to her coach's coordination, van den Hurk and her team spent some time at the Healthy Athletes area at the World Games where Special Olympics athletes received a variety of free health screenings and services in a series of clinics conducted in a welcoming and fun environment.

It's easy to understand why the Opening Eyes® screening, in particular, was her favorite—she received a pair of new pink and purple glasses at the screening. “I like these glasses better than my old ones. I always wear them, when I'm reading, watching television or when I have to see things,” she said.

While at the World Summer Games, van den Hurk got the chance to meet former Lions Clubs International President Jimmy Ross from Texas, USA, and he helped her select her favorite glasses. “He was a very friendly man,” she declared. “He sure is a big man!”

Van den Hurk loved Shanghai and said the people were very helpful. Her proudest moment at the World Summer Games was when she and her team won the bronze medal. “It was very exciting. It was difficult to win a game because the other teams were very good. We were all together, it was very enjoyable and we played very well together on the football field.”