Starkey Hearing Foundation hears Memel out

Community upliftment in Memel has gone well beyond the country’s borders.

On November 8, a number of volunteers from the Starkey Hearing Foundation descended on the small Free State town.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation is an American based organisation, which has donated and fitted more than a million hearing aids this decade, following a commitment in 2010.

The foundation was brought to Memel through the efforts of Cindy Burns.

“My husband and I moved down to Memel 10 years ago, after we retired,” said Burns, who hails from the State of Vermont, in the United States.

Having worked extensively with the World Health Organisation throughout her life, Burns and her husband immediately threw themselves into community-based projects in Memel.

The visit from Starkey Hearing Foundation was one such initiative.

“I heard about them when I went for my hearing aid and got into contact with the organisation.”

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After the formalities were completed, a team of audiologists from Johannesburg went to Memel where they stayed for three days.

“Over 600 people registered to have their ears tested,” Burns confirmed.

Those who were targeted were people from low income backgrounds who could not otherwise afford a consultation and a hearing-aid.

Once the tests were concluded, Burns explained the patients would then be able to collect their hearing-aids in February 2018.

Residents were ecstatic and extended their gratitude towards Burns and the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

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