Make a Will, Make a Difference

"It is much easier now to read, to run and play. I can jump! I am happy now!" – Wendy
Photo: Wendy, from rural Guatemala, had a traumatic cataract caused by an injury to her eye at age 4. After cataract surgery her vision came back nicely. Wendy can now see clearly and is excited to be returning to school. Her future has been transformed thanks to supporters like you. 

Time, for a child, seems to stand still – especially when waiting for a much-anticipated surprise.  For adults, it is another story. Have you ever thought, “I wish time would speed up”?  

Planning for the future is key, and at Seva we are looking ahead, planning, and investing in a brighter future for all. That is why we invest your support in self-sustaining eye care solutions that will benefit a community for generations to come. Seva believes everyone deserves access to health resources. And this month, there is a renewed importance to this message as we recognize August as National Make-A-Will-Month!

This month, I invite you to join thousands of others around the country to create a legacy that lasts a lifetime. Seva has partnered with FreeWill to offer a free estate planning tool for our supporters. This easy-to-use tool allows you to create a will or Living Trust to protect your loved ones and provide a brighter future to millions in need by preserving and restoring sight through Seva’s programs. Make-a-will, make-a-difference!

Why create an estate plan, you ask? 

  • It’s essential. Everyone needs a will, and creating one can help you exercise agency over the important decisions in life and protect the people you care about.
  • It’s your legacy. Your will is your opportunity to define your legacy on your own terms and create a lasting impact. 
  • It lets you transform lives. FreeWill makes it simple to include Seva in your estate plan – all without paying a single cent today. Your legacy gift ensures that underserved communities receive vital eye care, treatment, and medicine now & far into the future.

Investing in Seva is investing in self-sustaining eye care programs that enable communities to thrive for years to come. I’d be honored if you joined this legacy and the many Seva supporters who choose to leave planned gifts. Watch the video below for more information on how to use FreeWill to meet your estate planning needs, and I invite you to reach out to give@seva.org with any questions. 

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Today is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

The first picture that shows up on google when you search “Native Communities in the USA” 
Source: https://www.nps.gov/cajo/learn/historyculture/american-indian-tribes-today.htm

When you think of Native American communities across the United States, what image comes to mind? For many, it is often the picture shown here, portrayed in the media, or in old western movies, but, what we often miss is that true Native beauty is vibrant, diverse, and endless!

My name is Jennifer Leo, and while this is the first time I’m writing to you, I’ve been with Seva for the last year as the Program Officer of our American Indian Sight Initiative. As a proud member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, I work hand-in-hand with Native partners to assess their unique needs and co-create solutions that strengthen our communities.

As a Native person, I have encountered many myths about Native communities. But, I want to help flip the lens. Let’s dig a bit deeper, and let me share a side of Native communities not often portrayed – the true beauty, joy, and even struggles we face. Come along to meet some of the partners you support, and who knows, you might even learn something new!

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The upcoming International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Jennifer Leo with her father.

Even though we have never met, you & I are connected. 

It may seem hard to believe, with so much that separates us. Your story may have started in a different place than mine, at a different time from mine, with different characters and plots. But, at this moment our paths meet. 

This connection among all people is something I learned from my dad. As a little girl and a proud member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, I remember my dad telling me stories. Sometimes they were about himself. Sometimes they were about my aunties, or my grandfather. And, sometimes they were about my ancestors from long ago. I remember he told me about a time my grandmother had no food to feed him for dinner. So, she washed him, and wrapped him in a blanket and sang him to sleep, to take his mind off his empty stomach. 

I grew up hearing these stories, learning the details of lives of people I had never met. One day, my dad took me to a mesa, and he said, “Do you know why I tell you all of these stories?” I shook my head no. And he said, “Until today, when you looked in the mirror, you have seen only yourself. After today, – you will see all of us, looking back at you.”  

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Garden of Love

Tanzania. Photo by Seva Canada.

The red flower
stands up
in blood red
fashion and
makes a 
statement
in the garden
of love.

The pink flower
blushes with
shame and
secretly envies
the red flower
in the garden
of love.

The yellow flower
stands on 
a holier than thou
stance
and looks
oblivious of its
surroundings
in the garden
of love.

They germinate,
grow and bloom
in beauty
tended
by the same
hands in the
garden of love.

Poem by Dr. Chundak Tenzing

Big dreams at 102! This is your story too.

We’re part of so many stories. There are those in which we know for sure what role we play and the impact we have on other’s lives and the world – like the role of a mother, father, grandparent, student or teacher. But then there are some stories that we forget we’re a part of. Stories in which we help transform a life. We, here at Seva, wanted to remind you of the difference you make every day. After all, you’re a big part of this story too:

Cast a net, and dream as big and far as you can (and then some!) That’s what Bhagwandeen, from Madhya Pradesh, India, believes in. At 102-years young – the oldest man in his village! – Bhagwandeen loves to live his life with unwavering joy and a sense of adventure.

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