Carole Blank Shares the Love
Glasses have been part of Carole Blank’s life since she was a kid. So imagine her delight, make that astonishment, when a cataract surgery gave her 20/20 vision in one eye.
Continue readingDonor Shout-Outs – Fall 2024
Seva Foundation
Seva is a global nonprofit eye care organization that works with local communities around the world to develop self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight.
Since 1978, Seva has provided sight-saving surgeries, eyeglasses, medicine, and other eye care services to more than 40 million people in under-served communities.
Since 1978, Seva has provided sight-saving surgeries, eyeglasses, medicine, and other eye care services to more than 40 million people in under-served communities.
Meet Seva’s Youth Ambassadors – Smart, Kind, Committed
These young activists are eager to make the world a better place. From stories to rap to athletic endeavors, these projects reflect the talent and compassion of their creators.
Continue readingHistory is being made in Quiche, Guatemala
We’re making history together!
Welcome to the first eye hospital in Quiche, Guatemala.
One step in Quiche, Guatemala, and you’ll be met by its people’s extraordinary warmth, generosity, and kindness. One of Guatemala’s most populous departments, it’s where almost one million people from diverse indigenous Mayan communities, call home. Situated in the central highlands and surrounded by two mountain ranges, Quiche is as isolated as it is beautiful. Most rely on agriculture and textiles for their livelihood. Along with this remoteness comes poverty and a lack of services, created in the aftermath of years of civil unrest. Essential health care, including vision, is simply not a reality for the majority of people who live here.
But through science, sustainable public health infrastructure, and your support – a difference is being made.
Continue readingTwo-eyed seeing: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
On August 9, join Seva in celebrating International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Since the late 70s, Seva has been honored to work alongside, learn from, and co-create sustainable eye care programs that benefit indigenous communities. Key to our success has been combining the strengths of indigenous culture, knowledge and ways of living with the latest science.
One way we achieve this is through two-eyed seeing, an approach first developed from the teachings of Chief Charles Labrador of Acadia First Nation, and later expanded on Mi’kmaq Elders, Dr. Albert and Dr. Murdena Marshall from Eskasoni First Nation. As published in the British Columbia Medical Journal, two-eyed seeing invites us to “see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing, and to use both of these eyes together for the benefit of all.” 1
Continue readingWhat Kind of Return Does a Dollar Get?
Only social equity, stronger economies, and rediscovered dignity.
Eyesight influences most aspects of daily life, from the playground to the job-site, infancy to old age. It’s alarming, then, that one-quarter of the global population – 2.2 billion people – are living with vision impairment, and only half of those get the care they need. More women are affected than men, and the numbers increase sharply with age. Without significant investment in preventative actions, these numbers are projected to increase to 1.8 billion by 2050, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Continue readingThe Fabric of Life, Woven in Baskets and Birthdays
Cows, chickens, dogs, kids both human and four-legged play and hang out in the fields of Kansaeng, a corner of Siem Reap, Cambodia that leans on agriculture—and women—for its livelihood.
Continue readingDr. Suzanne Gilbert: A Career in Service, Spirit, and Science.
This summer will begin a new chapter for Dr. Suzanne Gilbert as she retires from the Seva Foundation.
Continue readingSeva Partners Use Data to Strengthen Eye Care
Since its founding, one of Seva’s guiding principles has been sensitivity to the culture and norms of the communities we serve. Research staff, consultants, and volunteers work directly with Seva partner eye hospitals to understand, at a root level, the systems unique to that facility.
Continue readingSeva Takes Home the Anthem Award
Matt Damon and Misty Copland, would you mind scooting over? Yes, you may take your award with you. Oh this? Well, we have an award too. Let’s do lunch.
Fine, so we didn’t actually meet our fellow Anthem Award winners. Nonetheless, we’re proud to be among the ranks of people and worldwide organizations whose mission-driven work is acknowledged. In January, Seva was recognized in the categories of Health, Product and Service for the Pristine 5.0 camera (formerly Vistaro).
Continue readingNew Opportunities Make Dreams Possible
Scientist. Teacher. Station master. For some students in West Bengal, India, these careers were pipe dreams. Now, at the Seva-supported VMANNN (Vivekananda Mission Asram Netra Niramay Niketan) hospital, training exists to make these aspirations possible.
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