Perfect vision

Tamara Richa, who has an abiding interest in the sciences, has set up a charity in Lebanon that repurposes unused eyeglasses, distributing them to the needy

Passionate about mathematics, Tamara Richa tackles seemingly unsolvable problems with a distinctively creative flair. Harnessing critical thinking mindfully in her academics, she has been nominated in honors lists across all disciplines. Beyond academics, she indulges her curiosity through the exploration of new cities, cultures, hobbies and books.

Her passion for reading is also fueled by her interest in self-improvement, a reason she can often be seen devouring self-help books, ‘‘though I have to admit I do appreciate a romance novel as a pleasurable read every once in a while''. A big fan of water and alpine skiing, she also enjoys playing the piano, particularly classical music. ‘‘I've been practicing Ludovico Einaudi's Fly or Nuvole Bianche, as I find classical music very therapeutic,'' she says. When it comes to academics, she leans towards neuroscience, pharmacology, biological sciences, mathematics. ‘‘I don't know where my curiosity will guide my professional career, but I look forward to learning more about these various branches of sciences throughout my education,'' she says.

Excerpts from an interview:

What got you interested in mathematics and sciences, particularly neural sciences?

I have always been interested in solving mathematical problems. In fact, the exact science and the certainty that comes with it bring me satisfaction and confidence.

Neural sciences is the most appealing prospect to me as it is a field that helps understand our basic biology and how our bodies work.

Tell us about the non-profit initiative that you set up in Lebanon. How and why did you set it up?

Seeing Lebanon's rising levels of poverty, with many people short on basic needs, nutrition, education, and proper health care, left me restless and looking for ways to help support and contribute to the people, especially the less fortunate youth. After careful research, I found out that there was an unmet need by charities as they mostly concentrated in the area of food, clothing, and education. Eyesight is a necessity for education, growth, and consequently, social mobility. Thus, an uncorrected vision problem could seriously hamper an individual's ability to learn and reach their highest potential. So I decided to launch a nation-wide collection and repurposing of old glasses that were lying wasted in people's drawers and distribute them to those in need.

Having partnered with Lebanon's leading optician, people could donate their old glasses in collection boxes displayed at the store. Those glasses were then labeled with the correct prescription and handed to charity organizations. Kassouf opticians agreed to generously offer free eye tests to those who needed it. The feedback I got was extremely positive, but I asked that the donations remain anonymous.

What were the challenges you faced setting it up?

The biggest challenge was finding the right partners as it is important to build credibility for people willing to donate their old spectacles. The challenge was met when a famous optician liked the idea and was willing to embrace the cause offering support.

How do you plan to take this initiative forward?

I'm planning on organizing a full fledged social media campaign that promotes collection and builds awareness for my website. I will use the power of digital media to maximize my reach. The RecEYEcle website will be the platform for both collection and distribution of the glasses.

What tips can you offer students who are planning to set up similar initiatives?

It's important to focus on identifying the problem at stake.

Once you've identified the issue you want to work on, developing a solution is easy - as easy as collecting used glasses!

For an initiative to be efficient and successful, it doesn't have to provide a fancy solution, but it has to solve a problem, even in the simplest of ways.