Suzanna at her Singer sewing machine | © Martin Aufmuth, EinDollarBrille e.V. Suzanna (74), traveled five hours from her village on the Amazon River in Brazil to get a pair of glasses from a OneDollarGlasses-trained optician. Suzanna raised 15 children and she has 53 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; she proudly shows how she can sew again for her family after receiving her glasses.
the glasses—two styles, as well as sunglasses—are extremely durable. The eyewear is adaptable to the client’s facial shape and prescription, and can be customized by color. Thanks to this technical innovation, the diagnosis and production of the glasses can be carried out at the same time. 2. BUSINESS MODEL: ODG advises franchisees on how to adapt management and outreach to local health and economic systems. In intensive training courses that cover optics, as well as production and business basics, ODG teaches locals all they need to know to build their own microenterprise, which is self-sustaining and independent after training and launch. Furthermore, the trainees become multipliers of the concept, training new producers themselves. To ensure the quality of the opticians’ work, Martin established a system with certified quality supervisors. While each country launch is funded through donations, local ODG franchise operating costs are
covered through earned income. Generally, the production costs of one pair of glasses is approximately $.50 and the opticians sell each pair for 1-3 times a customary day’s wages. To fund outreach costs to remote areas, ODG cross-subsidizes costs by selling eyewear in cities at a slightly higher price point. Martin’s business model works: In Burkina Faso alone, 30 people earn a full income by selling more than 1,000 pairs of glasses per month. 3. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST WITH COMMUNITIES: To address a lack of awareness of how glasses can improve one’s life, Martin knows that a main ingredient of success is building trust with future clients in each community. ODG forges relationships with local businesses, schools, and churches. The partnerships with churches are especially effective; church leaders want the people in their congregations to
ASHOKA 2018 |
63