Having been blind for the past 10 years, following a degenerative eye disease, Twala recently undergone a double corneal transplant to restore his sight.

On Thursday, 26 May, Twala watched his first film at Ster-Kinekor Eastgate with his family and friends, and the partners involved in #OpenEyes. “Avatar was amazing. I felt like I was inside the movie, acting in the movie too,” said Twala. 

Ster-Kinekor and its flagship CSI programme, Vision Mission, launched #OpenEyes at the beginning of May. Using multiple advertising and social media platforms, they reached out to all South Africans to get involved and lend their voices to the campaign, by suggesting what movie Philani should watch as his first ‘Great Moment’ with Ster-Kinekor.

“The response from the public was simply amazing,” says Bradley Knowles, general manager: Marketing of Ster-Kinekor Theatres. “Philani’s story touched hearts all around the country as South Africans reached for their tissues and embraced the campaign, posting their suggestions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

“It proved to be quite a task to scroll through all the posting and mark down the top five suggestions. While movies such as Star Wars and Fast & Furious 7 were popular choices, the clear winner was Avatar – and we can understand why.”

This fantasy science fiction film, set in the lush alien world of Pandora, is visually appealing through its fantastic use of colour – Twala loved the ‘purple, green, yellow, every colour there…’, and he could identify with the pain and suffering that paralysed marine, Jake Sully, was experiencing. “I have passed through the pain, and now I’m focusing on the future,” says Twala.

The opportunity to undergo this life-changing operation was made possible through the generosity and expertise of various people and organisations, the most important of whom are Ster-Kinekor customers who donated to Vision Mission each time they booked a movie ticket.

“It is impossible to thank the countless people who have given of their time and expertise to ensure the success of this operation. However, special thanks must go to Dr Akiel Asvat, the opthalmologist who performed Philani’s second corneal transplant on a pro bono basis,” comments Knowles.

For the past 10 years, Vision Mission has been responsible for giving the gift of clear sight to thousands of underprivileged school children across the country, through screenings, eye tests and the donation of thousands of pairs of spectacles. During this time, the CSI project also assisted with two previous corneal transplants. Through #OpenEyes, it has now played a significant role in the double corneal transplant operation on 20-year-old Twala.

The #OpenEyes campaign was launched to highlight and raise awareness for Vision Mission’s new focus - the plight of thousands of needy South Africans who require a corneal transplant, but who do not have the financial means. It is hoped that Philani’s uplifting and inspiring story, and the life-changing gift of sight that he has been given, is the first of many such stories that Ster-Kinekor will tell in the future.

“Our promise to our customers is a ‘great moment at its greatest’. From his reaction to the movie, this has certainly proved true for Philani, and we look forward to sharing many more ‘great moments’ with him,” said Knowles. 

“Our plea to all our cinema goers is to ‘opt in’ during the booking process, to make a contribution to the Ster-Kinekor Vision Mission initiative. Giving someone the precious gift of sight – something most of us take for granted, but a life-changing event for someone like Philani – is as simple as a donation from just R2.50,” concludes Knowles.

For more information, visit www.sterkinekor.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter using the #OpenEyes hashtag.