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.

Join us on the Flight for Sight!

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Bangladesh Boys

From the Himalayan mountains to the Amazonian rainforests of Peru, Seva delivers vital eye care to 20+ countries. So pack your virtual bags, and take a trip with us right from your screens to witness the beauty you create in this world. 

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First Stop 
BANGLADESH

Since 2006, Seva has worked in Bangladesh to deliver vital eye care, treatment, and resources for those in remote communities. Here, the rate of blindness is nearly 3X that of the United States. Access to eye care is everything. 

Earlier this year, we set out to raise funds for 7 new Vision Centers (VC) across the country, matched by a generous family – and we achieved it, together! These new VCs, currently in development, will create immediate access to eye care for 700,000 people in remote areas and will address up to 80% of all of their eye care needs!

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Take a beat & take this quiz!

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Photo of Pablito from Guatemala by Rebecca Gaal.

And we’re back…with another Seva Quiz! Ever wonder about the people, places, and solutions that guide our work? Well, look no further! We asked our team, dug our archives, and have a brand new & fun game of trivia to see how well you know the magic that makes Seva possible.

Take it now & you may even learn something new!

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Celebrating a Remarkable Woman with an Unbreakable Spirit

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The only thing we love more than restoring sight is…

CELEBRATING restored sight.

We recently celebrated the resilient and brave Thamma Nagamani from India, a remarkable woman with an unbreakable spirit.

Not too long ago, Thamma tragically lost her husband from suicide after his crops were destroyed. Her heart was shattered and her life was put at a standstill; she was left with no other option but to rebuild her future, from scratch. And that’s exactly what she did.

At the same time, Thamma’s vision was deteriorating. She had trouble completing her daily tasks.

Our field staff took her to our partner hospital, where she was diagnosed with cataract and received a sight-restoring surgery. Thamma’s life today? Bright! She spends her day looking after her family and even runs her own business.

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Open for a dad joke

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Shakeela and her father.
Shakeela and her father.

Dads are spect-ocular! (Sorry not sorry, we’ve been saving this one for a while…)

But really, some dads do it all. They carry us on their shoulders, lift us up to new heights, and always have a “dad joke” or two up their sleeve.

All for the smiles on their kids’ faces.

Shakeela Bibi, a bright-eyed 14 year old girl from Pakistan, knows this all too well. After her mother passed away, her dad, a popcorn salesman, took care of her and did all he could to bring her joy.

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Ain’t no mountain high enough – sight is right around the corner!

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Silichong, Nepal

In the high, hilly region of Eastern Nepal, at the rugged foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, lies the Sankhuwasabha district. A predominantly isolated area, home to farmers & herders, primary health care is often difficult to come by – but no hill is too high for our Seva team in Nepal!

A generous donor family, in loving memory of their son and brother, Yusef Abubaker, supported two life-changing surgical eye camps to serve the people in this remote community. Follow along their journey and watch the video:

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Pat Haley: Celebrating the power of our remarkable Seva community!

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Our Seva family continues to grow by the day, reaching every corner of the world. We recently heard from one inspiring supporter, Pat Haley, about his connection to our mission and why he chooses to support Seva – we had to share his uplifting message with you!

Pat has a remarkable career helping children living with special needs as a teacher, school administrator, project director, and grant writer. A few years ago, things changed. His vision began to deteriorate, and he required cataract surgery to restore his sight. 

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New Vision Centers Established = More Sight Restored 

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A Vision Center is a permanent, local establishment equipped to meet 80% of all eye care needs. Set up in primarily remote communities, they are a beacon of light for those with limited access to vision care. These centers support the local economy, often expanding job opportunities for women and underserved populations. 

We are thrilled to share that 33 new Vision Centers were inaugurated across Bangladesh and India in the past few months. 

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Seva wins major accolades for sight-restoration efforts!

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Nicholas Kristof
Esteemed former NY Times journalist Nicholas Kristof named Seva the Grand Prize recipient of the Holiday Impact Prize.

Seva closed 2021 in a big way! Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and former New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof named Seva his Holiday Impact Grand Prize Winner. This award honors non-profit organizations that are changing the world with bold ideas. Here’s what Kristof said about Seva:

“It feels miraculous to watch people regain their sight, but it’s a miracle that we can all make happen. Seva Foundation, the Grand Prize Winner of this year’s Holiday Impact Prize, is transforming people’s lives for as little as $50 per cataract surgery. Seva works in more than 20 countries abroad and in Native American communities in the United States, and nothing is more joyous than seeing the impact of its work on people who had thought they would never see again.” 

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LOVE, MUSIC AND LIGHT:  Our Sing Out For Seva Quarantine Concert was a hit!

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Joan Baez, Wavy Gravy, and Steve Earle.

Over Valentine’s Day weekend, Seva supporters spread the love in the most memorable way possible – through music, fun, and festivities! 

From February 11-14, we held our popular Sing Out For Seva Quarantine Concert – A Valentine’s Special, featuring never before seen archival footage from past benefit concerts. Viewers tuned in from all over the world and sang along to Crosby & Nash, Joan Baez & David Grisman, Jason Mraz, Los Lobos, Bob Weir & Steve Kimock, and many more star-studded performances. The one and only Wavy Gravy hosted the concert and also featured special guests Rising Appalachia, Elvin Bishop, and Dumpstaphunk.

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Meet Parmila – known as the “selfless mother” – transforming the lives of women in Nepal

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Parmila, as the selfless mother, travels to the island of Sri Lanka in Nepal by boat to provide health and eye care services to women in need with our Youth Outreach Team.

Parmila is from Sri Lanka, a small island located in the middle of a mighty river called Koshi and one of the remotest settlements in eastern Nepal. It can only be reached by boat, as pictured above, and is inhabited by people living with financial means. 

When our Youth Outreach Team visited the island, they learned that there were many cataract patients, but only the men had been prioritized to receive care. The women were confined to household chores, and their eyesight was thought to be less important. Sadly, these women believed  that this was their fate – to live in darkness forever. 

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