BRAC Bank and VisionSpring CEOs convened in Dhaka on May 4, 2025, to explore further collaboration opportunities in making affordable vision correction more accessible for underserved communities across Bangladesh.
Ella Gudwin, Chief Executive Officer of VisionSpring Global, met with Selim R. F. Hussain, Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank, at the bank’s head office to exchange insights and identify potential pathways for scale under BRAC Bank’s flagship CSR initiative, ‘Aporajeyo Ami’.
The leaders exchanged ideas on reaching communities and workforce groups with limited access to eye health services, acknowledging the potential of vision correction to support economic inclusion.
The partnership is well on track to screen the vision of 61,500 individuals by the end of 2025—including factory workers employed by BRAC Bank’s SME and corporate clients and the bank’s own executive and non-executive colleagues.
With 40% of the target group already covered, early findings show that 32% of individuals screened require eyeglasses. Remarkably, more than 80% of those receiving glasses are first-time wearers.
“Access to clear vision is not just a health intervention—an economic enabler, a cultural shift. Through this win-win CSR initiative with VisionSpring, we are unlocking human potential at scale,” said Selim R. F. Hussain, MD & CEO of BRAC Bank.
Emphasising the shared purpose, Ella Gudwin said, “BRAC Bank exemplifies what it means to be a strategic, corporate changemaker. Together, we are proving that vision correction can be a lever for well-being, sustainable development and economic inclusion. We invite others to join us in creating a clear vision Bangladesh.”
VisionSpring, founded in 2001, has corrected the vision of 14 million low-income individuals worldwide, unlocking $3 billion in income-generating potential in low-income households.