The Ebsar Foundation plans to launch a campaign at schools to educate children on how to look after their eyesight.

The organization, which caters to people with visual disabilities, will start the program at the beginning of the new school year in September.

Muhammed Tawfiq Bellow, secretary-general of the Ebsar Foundation, told Arab News on Wednesday that this would be the first such campaign in the Arab world which targets children between the ages of three and 12.

The board of the organization has approved the campaign, which would be undertaken with the Education Ministry.

Bellow said the aim of the campaign is to ensure children understand how to take measures, which could prevent visual problems later in life.

He also announced that the foundation has decided to build an "Ebsar Village” in north Jeddah that would have integrated services and research facilities for visually impaired people. The project would cost SR1.4 million. The foundation has asked Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishal bin Majed to allocate land for it.

He said the foundation recently finalized a partnership agreement with King Abdulaziz University to teach female students with visual disabilities. The pilot project would see 41 female students register for bachelor degree courses in journalism and public relations.

Bellow said the foundation also forged a partnership with King Fahd Library to establish an exclusive section for readers with visual problems.

He said Prince Talal, the honorary president of the association, has donated an extra SR1 million to Ebsar, apart from his regular contribution.

In response to a question, Bellow said the organization has a deficit of over SR2 million. The board discussed this issue and decided to settle all outstanding amounts immediately. He said the budget for next year has increased.

The board meeting was attended by Prince Talal, Prince Nawaf bin Saud bin Saad, Prince Badr bin Nawaf bin Saud bin Saad, Islamic Development Bank Chairman Ahmed Mohammed Ali and other members.

The Ebsar Foundation is a nongovernmental organization funded by donations and grants and provides rehabilitation services for people with visual disabilities. It helps to educate those in its care with skills to enter the workplace.