May 21, 2020
In this episode we explore a number of key questions at the heart of systems change: What is the motivation behind systems change? What are the differences and relationships between systems change and a direct service approach?
Jordan Kassalow is the founder of VisionSpring, an organisation
that works to provide affordable access to eyewear, everywhere, and
eliminate poor vision, due to the lack of eyeglasses-- the largest
disability in the world.
VisionSpring’s initial focus was on distributing ready-made,
non-prescription reading glasses via a network of Vision
Entrepreneurs… an on-the-ground sales team, later evolving a
broader approach using sales through distribution partners, and an
emerging “full service” model, providing affordable, high-quality
prescription glasses
By Autumn 2019, VisionSpring had reached 7 million people with
eyeglasses and generated over $1.2 billion of economic impact for
its customers.
Notwithstanding VisionSpring’s success, Jordan has been looking for
ways to increase the scale of impact on this problem, for a more
systems-based approach, and in 2016, he co-founded EYElliance, a
system change, multi-sector alliance of over 60 organizations
working together to eliminate poor vision due to the lack of
eyeglasses.
For more information, please find the link to a detailed case
study on VisionSpring
https://bit.ly/2Xh9uf2