Seeing the Bigger Picture
Seva Foundation has been recognized with a 2026 Global Recognition Award for research showing that eye care can do more than improve sight; it can strengthen livelihoods and local economies. The research was also featured in Business Insider, bringing these findings to a broader audience.
In Guatemala, Seva researchers studied coffee harvesters with correctable vision problems, measuring not only their vision but also productivity and income. The results were striking: workers who received glasses produced more coffee, earned more, and sustained those gains throughout the harvest season.
The research earned top marks for its originality, interdisciplinary approach, and potential for real-world impact. Said Seva CEO Kate Moynihan, “Research like this is changing how governments, funders, and businesses view eye health: not simply as healthcare, but as a proven strategy for reducing poverty and growing economies.”
This recognition reflects Seva’s commitment to research that doesn’t just generate knowledge; it helps shape practical solutions that communities can use.
Rethinking What Innovation Means
What do we mean when we talk about innovation?
In a recent Newsweek opinion piece, Seva CEO and Executive Director Kate Moynihan makes the case for looking beyond the newest technology and asking a more fundamental question: Are we using what we already know in ways that reach the people who need it?
Around the world, millions of people live with vision impairment that could be prevented or addressed with established, affordable interventions. Yet eye care is often treated as a charitable health service rather than a basic part of the infrastructure that allows people and communities to thrive.
Kate points to a broader lesson for an era captivated by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Innovation isn’t always about inventing something that has never existed. It can also mean rethinking systems, removing barriers, and finding better ways to put proven solutions within reach.
That perspective adds another dimension to innovation: not just creating what’s next, but making sure what works can reach everyone.
– Kate Moynihan
“We live in an age of extraordinary artificial intelligence. Yet for millions
of people, the most life-changing technology is still an ordinary pair
of glasses.”
