Luanda, Angola :: Logos Hope crew collaborate to bring hope to a local community
Logos Hope's and indeed GBA Ships’ maiden visit to Angola, Africa's largest Portuguese-speaking country, led to a collaboration with a local partner organisation for a sewing workshop, eyesight testing and the distribution of free glasses to the residents of Luanda.
The sewing workshop took place in Logos Hope's small dining room, with a dozen women taking part. In just a few hours, they learned how to make a sewing project by hand and another by machine.
Local resident, Mimi, made a shopping bag. She shared that this time on board was also a chance for her to relax from a very busy daily life, while learning new things and exchanging experiences.
Crewmember Haelyn (Trinidad and Tobago), one of the workshop leaders, shared, “One widow, with four kids said that what she learned will help her to earn some money for her family. We had the honour of leaving five sewing machines with them so they could continue sewing.”
On shore, a greater number of people with limited means benefited from the provision of eye tests and free glasses. Crewmembers tested around 200 people’s eyesight, and nearly 150 pairs of glasses were distributed.
Angolan teenager Pascual has already been wearing glasses for a few years. He shared that his prescription had expired and that he hasn't had new glasses for five years.
"Today, I was able to wear new glasses. It's a very good thing, because I could hardly see anything. Everything was very blurred and these glasses have helped me a lot,” he said.
The partner organisation shared that their aim is to reach out to help other nations, but with Logos Hope’s visit, this is the first time they have seen other nations come to help them.
“I’m glad that just our presence could provide them with a new paradigm and insight,” concluded crewmember, Zoe (Switzerland).
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