Our Mission
The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation is dedicated to enhancing access to learning and development opportunities for all. Our giving approach seeks to provide every individual with the fundamental building blocks to reach their full potential and to drive global progress.
We recognise childhood literacy is an essential component of quality education. Literacy is the foundation for personal growth, enhances critical thinking and creativity, and opens the door to a brighter future for the next generation.
Meanwhile, clear vision is crucial for individuals to engage in lifelong learning, gain access to decent employment opportunities, work productively, and achieve well-being at all ages. We believe that universal access to vision correction has the power to be a part of every nation’s roadmap to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Our Achievements
Our mission and approach has allowed us to deliver impact across a number of key projects.
Established a eye testing system in 2011, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Rwanda, positioning it as the first developing nation to offer universal affordable eye care.
Provided funding and support since 2018 for 9 research trials exploring impact of vision correction on productivity, education, road safety and well-being.
Secured a UN General Assembly resolution in 2021, committing the international community to provide access to eye care for the 1.1 billion people living with preventable sight loss, by 2030.
Created the first UN working group on poor vision in 2019, called "UN Friends of Vision".
Achieved commitment from all 52 heads of Commonwealth nations to pledge affordable eye care for all at CHOGM 2018.
Installed over 500 libraries and provided over 180,000 children with easy access to quality books in Hong Kong since launching the Bring Me a Book HK in 2006. Engaged over 30,000 parents and educators in training programmes.
Launched in 2008, the Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award provides an important platform for talented authors and illustrators to showcase their original work in Chinese language to gain recognition locally and internationally. We are proud that the Award has been acknowledged as one of the prestigious book awards for Chinese children’s publications.
There are 40 schools that are part of the Stone Soup Happy Reading Alliance in Anhui, China, as at 2020. One of the Alliance schools, Wanghu Primary School, was awarded the title of "The Most Beautiful School Library in China" by the Ministry of Culture in 2015.
Our Chair, James Chen, received the 2023 Spears Impact Award, recognising two decades of work to improve access to vision correction worldwide.
