At just 19 years old, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering (iBioMed) student Kobe Li has already helped thousands see the world more clearly – literally.

Since launching his nonprofit 20/20 Mission in 2023, Kobe and his team have collected nearly 5,000 pairs of used eyeglasses and delivered them to underserved communities, including during a recent mission trip to Guatemala.

His efforts have earned him national recognition as one of only 13 recipients of the prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award — a scholarship that celebrates young Canadians who demonstrate courage, compassion and a commitment to making a difference.

A clear vision from the start 

Kobe’s nonprofit began back home in Vancouver, BC, where he first noticed a gap between access and affordability of vision care. As someone who has worn glasses since the age of nine, he recognized not everyone has the same means to secure a pair.

What started as a summer project with friends – collecting unused glasses from local optometrists – quickly grew into a passion project. On their very first day, they visited 15 clinics and walked away with more than 300 pairs of glasses. The team quickly realized the scale of the opportunity.

“There was a surprising surplus of unused glasses tucked away in drawers and back rooms, just waiting to be repurposed – all they had to do was ask,” Kobe says.

A mission with global impact 

The mission trip to Guatemala was a turning point. Kobe and his team partnered with Rajon Share Care to run a five-day clinic in a remote mountain town. People began lining up as early as five in the morning for the chance to see a doctor. Despite waiting hours in the heat, the atmosphere remained remarkably positive and filled with smiles, gratitude and a sense of hope.

“This wasn’t just about sight,” says Kobe. “It’s about giving people their lives back.”

One patient hugged every volunteer after receiving his first pair of glasses as he was able to read again, recalls Kobe. Another patient who had never attended high school due to severe vision impairment, received a rare pair of strong prescription glasses.

Helping others see their potential 

Kobe is now entering his second year of the iBioMed program. He manages to balance a packed schedule of classes, leadership roles and humanitarian work with positive energy.

“I treat school like an add-on,” he laughs. “The real experience is everything else – the people, the projects and the impact.”

This summer, Kobe is working as an Innovation Strategist Intern with the Youth Impact Challenge – the very organization that helped launch 20/20 Mission. It is a social innovation incubator for young changemakers across Canada, providing funding, mentorship and resources to youth-led projects that aim to create social or environmental impact.

Kobe first participated in the challenge in 2023 as a high school student. Now, he’s giving back by mentoring new participants and helping shape the next wave of youth-led innovation.

Framing the future 

With another mission trip plan in the works, Kobe is already thinking bigger. His dream is to increase the scale of his operations and donate tens of thousands of glasses, which could support local clinics in Guatemala and build something sustainable – something that lasts.

Receiving the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award has only fueled his passion. “It’s not just a scholarship but a reminder that what we’re doing matters,” he says. “It’s motivation to keep going, even when things get tough.”