Fuseproject partnered with the Mexican government on the "See Better to Learn Better" program, which seeks to provide low cost, customizable eyewear for students from 6-18 years old.
The philosophy behind the new line of eyewear, Coleccion Escolar 2010, takes cues from One Laptop Per Child� it's designed specifically to fit with children's lives and environment. The frames are nearly indestructible and ergonomic. Color, shape and fit are customizable.
The program goes to schools and administers free eye exams to the kids, who are encouraged to be creative with their specs through an interactive special options catalog� a process which hopes to remove some of the social stigma of glasses-wearing in the classroom. The prescriptions and frames are produced locally by Mexican company Augen.
The partnership seeks to help families who can't afford high price exams and eyewear, and aims to resolve current learning difficulties related to vision problems in Mexican classrooms. In Mexican states like Morelos, Sonora and Chiapas, the percentage of kids who need corrective eyewear can be as high as 60-70%. Overall, the average classroom need in 11%.