With the support of VisionSpring, BRAC (Bringing Resources Across Communities) is working to train and equip its all-female network of over 60,000 community health workers, or Shastho Shebikas, to provide vision screenings and sell affordable reading glasses in their communities. Dr. Jordan Kassalow and Dr. Mushtaque Chowdhury, Deputy Executive Director of BRAC, were honored by Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management and the Center for Economic Self-Reliance with the Social Innovator of the Year Award for 2006 for their partnership efforts.

BRAC, the world's largest NGO, is VisionSpring's exclusive Bangladesh partner. BRAC serves 100 million of Bangladesh's 144 million citizens and reaches nearly 80% of its villages, providing access to healthcare, microfinance, education, and other critical development programs.

BRAC's deep local infrastructure helps VisionSpring to rapidly reach the rural poor, while VisionSpring's Business in a Bag provides critical additional income stream to BRAC's volunteer community health workers. The VisionSpring-BRAC partnership is on track to empower all 60,000 Shastho Shebikas as Vision Entrepreneurs and to provide eyecare services to over 80% of Bangladesh.