On my desk sits a photo of Milka, a three-year-old girl from Burundi who received her first pair of glasses years ago thanks to supporters like you. In the picture, she wears bright pink frames that rest a little wide on her small face, and tucked over her arm is a tiny pocketbook – an accessory that somehow makes her look both playful and unmistakably determined. There’s a confidence in her expression, a look that tells me we will all be working for her someday.
Whenever I begin writing a vital grant application, reviewing a proposal, or reaching out to a partner like you, I pause and look at her smile. It centers me. It reminds me not only why this work matters, but who it is for. And as I imagine all the extraordinary things she will grow to do and experience – now that she can see her own path clearly – I find myself asking that photo whether I have done enough – and whether I am doing enough – to reach the other children like her who are still waiting.
In a global health landscape that is shifting quickly and, at times, unpredictably, Seva has continued to show up with focus and resolve. Last year, we expanded Vision Centers, strengthened partner clinics, and delivered eye care to 7.6 million people. This work is possible because partners like you stand with us – consistently and ambitiously.
Our 2025 Impact Report captures what that shared commitment made possible:
- India: 23 new Vision Centers, reaching 1.8 million people
- Cambodia: Launch of the country’s first optometry school
- United States: Partnership with the FDA to advance ophthalmic device development
- Global: Spearheading the economic justification for sight by publishing proof that kids who get glasses earn 78% more than the kids who needed but didn’t receive, and by helping to found the WHO SPECS initiative to expand access to glasses.
And still, the need is immense. Unaddressed vision loss costs low- and middle-income countries over one trillion dollars each year in lost productivity – even though the solutions are remarkably simple: eyeglasses, or a 15-minute cataract surgery. Seva’s research shows clearly: every $1 invested in eye health generates $36 in societal benefits.
Together, we are proving that progress is not only possible – it is already accelerating. Every step we take sends a ripple of impact farther than we can see, a reminder that real change is unfolding right now because people like you choose to show up. Thank you for standing with us.
Let’s keep pushing forward with the kind of momentum that makes the future feel electric – until clear sight is no longer a privilege for the few, but a promise fulfilled for everyone.
Onwards & Upwards,
Kate Moynihan
CEO/Executive Director
Seva Foundation
About the author
Kate Moynihan
Kate Moynihan is an impassioned leader and decision-maker who has overseen programs in networked organizations and social enterprises in resource-constrained settings, internationally and in the United States. She is a catalyst for institutional and systems change, partnering successfully with diverse international organizations to deliver world-class leadership for mission-based social justice around the globe. Throughout Kate’s career, she has shown an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people living in disadvantaged, marginalized segments of the world. Kate currently serves as CEO / Executive Director of the Seva Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Berkeley, California that transforms lives by restoring sight to individuals in areas with limited access to eye care.
One comment on “The Power of Showing Up – With You”
Dear Kate,
More power to you
Congratulations for the impact Seva brings
over the last 5 years there is more enthusiasm of training sharing and learning in the partner organisations we are working together in terms of improving patient safety and quality
I am grateful to you for letting me be a part of this gratifying work
Thank you Kate
Regards
Samina Zamindar