The Seva Squad is Coming to Your Town!

Young creatives, athletes, artists, and makers of all types are called upon to take Seva’s reach to the next level by joining the Seva Squad, our youth ambassador program for students ages 13 to 18 years old. Seva Squad members will use their talents to create projects that spread the word about Seva’s mission. Completed projects, along with squad members, will be featured on our social media channels, website, and newsletters.

If you know somebody who’d be interested in joining future Seva Squads, point them to the Seva Squad webpage www.seva.org/squad for more information, or have them contact squad leader Judy Zimola at jzimola@seva.org.

New Vision Centers: Mobilizing Towards Eye Health Equity

Last year, Seva and partners established 30 new vision centers across Bangladesh, Guatemala, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, and the United States. Of these, we are thrilled to share that 26 have been inaugurated.

Vision Center inaugurations are attended by local leaders who introduce the eye professionals and paraprofessionals to the people they serve. By doing so, they build trust and promote the importance of proper eye care. It also helps to normalize eye care throughout the region and spread the word that treatment and care are now accessible.

Elvis Costello has a Message for You

Watch this amazing video kicked off by Elvis Costello, featuring lots of Seva friends, and music courtesy of Seva Ambassador Jackson Browne. They’re helping us promote Guatemala Brillando, our plan that will end avoidable blindness in the country within 10 years.

Watch and share this video with your networks – the more people who see it, the more attention our Guatemala Brillando initiative receives. Thank you for spreading the Seva love!

Seva is honored by the Government of Cambodia!

Cambodia

Seva Foundation was honored with four national awards from the Government of Cambodia, signed by the King and the Prime Minister, in recognition of over two decades of restoring sight throughout the country. At a ceremony that coincided with World Sight Day, the following Seva team members were honored:

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Donor Shout-Outs – Spring 2023

To know Terrie Velasquez is to know goodness

In the early 70s, a series of experiences – from  reading Ram Dass’s “Be Here Now,” to being a fan of The Grateful Dead, to learning about Wavy Gravy – led Terrie Velasquez to Seva. She’s a firm believer in giving back to communities, and for her, the stars aligned with Seva.  

“I knew that Seva worked in many countries, and I knew Seva held many of my own personal values. SEVA = selfless service.” 

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Two Seva Studies Spotlight Cost of Eye Care

High-quality data for global economic estimates in eye health, particularly for low-income and middle-income countries, is limited. Two years ago, Seva started an initiative to spotlight the ‘cost of community and primary care in eye health’ and ‘The economic and social costs of visual impairment and blindness’ with the aim to generate first-hand evidence. 

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MODO does more to bring eye care to all! 

MODO, an international eyewear company, has been vital to helping Seva increase access to eye care globally. In 2018, Seva made a commitment to screen one million children and provide all necessary follow-up care by December 2020. This undertaking was supported by Seva’s corporate partner, MODO, and other Seva supporters. 

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Wavy Gravy’s Birthday Event: Something Good for a Change

“We can make a difference and have fun doing it!”
– Wavy Gravy

Mark your calendar and get ready for the event of the year!

On May 7th, we’re celebrating everyone’s favorite hippie icon, flower geezer, temple of accumulated error, and Seva Co-Founder Wavy Gravy’s 87th birthday – and you’re invited to join the festivities!

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How Ram Dass put his Compassion into Action

Top: Ram Dass wearing his Seva t-shirt.

Today, we celebrate Ram Dass’s birthday. As Co-Founder of Seva Foundation, Ram Dass’s life was the definition of service, unconditional love, and generosity – he was, first and foremost, on a quest to relieve human suffering.

Over the years, Ram Dass wore many hats to advance our mission of a world free of avoidable blindness, from spokesperson to super fundraiser to program architect. He listened, worked diligently, and stood side-by-side with the communities we served. His focus was compassion in action – a motto that we live and breathe here at Seva today.

Here are a few ways in which he did just that:

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Love is in the air … and right here in the Seva family!

Wavy and Jahanara in more recent times.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

You already know that love sparks a lot of goodness. When we sprinkle it around, and put our love into action, the world becomes better. And you do it through Seva everyday! Did you know that many of the ‘Originals’ who jump started our mission were also couples in love? The love they carried for each other was put into action towards a greater cause – spreading joy.

This Valentine’s Day, meet a few of these Seva Sweethearts:

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