It’s always a wonderful feeling when we’re able to help someone.
One Malaysian woman recently recalled her experience volunteering with Be My Eyes, an app that helps blind and visually impaired people manage everyday situations.
In a post on Threads, the woman shared that she had received her very first call through the app. The call connected her to an individual who needed help ensuring his pet fish was fed the correct food pellets.
The post quickly garnered the attention of other social media users who were curious about the app. Another Threads user also commented that they appeared to have encountered the same individual through the app, requesting the same kind of help.
What is Be My Eyes and how can you volunteer?
True to its name, the Be My Eyes app connects blind and visually impaired individuals with volunteers who can be their eyes when managing everyday tasks, such as reading expiry dates or identifying objects.
Image Credit: Be My Eyes
The app was created by a Danish craftsman named Hans Jørgen Wiberg, who is visually impaired himself. While working with the Danish Association of the Blind, Wiberg noticed that people like him often needed assistance with small tasks and frequently had to rely on loved ones for help.
Image Credit: Threads
As a result, the app was launched in 2015, and within 24 hours, 10,000 volunteers had signed up. Today, the app has millions of volunteers supporting users in more than 180 languages.
The Be My Eyes app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play. To sign up, all you need is your name and email address. However, do note that it may take some time before you receive your first video call through the app.
Featured Image Credit: Teen Vogue, Freepik
