Seva News
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“Seva has given so much help to so many thousands of people for so many years — such a wonderful example of love in action.”

Bonnie Raitt
Singer / Songwriter

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"Seva has made an extraordinary contribution to the world — not only through their international programs, but here in some of the most impoverished communities in North America, on Native American reservations. Thank you Seva."

Jackson Browne
Singer / Songwriter

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"Seva takes the impulse towards generosity and turns it into compassionate action that helps people in real need. I honor my friends and relations by giving to Seva in their name — the entire world benefits. I hope you'll join me."

Peter Coyote
Actor / Writer

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"Compassion and caring for people in need - that's simply a moral necessity. But it's not always easy to do. Seva makes it easy. They know how to put your donations to work in ways that truly benefit people."

Joan Baez
Singer / Humanitarian Activist

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"When we met the folks at Seva, we knew we were among kindred spirits, joining to bring people together in service to others. Whether preventing blindness in Nepal, assisting native peoples in Guatemala and Mexico, or helping our own Native Americans, Seva has been there to help alleviate suffering and improve people's lives. Long may they rock!"

Phil Lesh
The Grateful Dead

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"Seva's efforts create hope and happiness worldwide for so many people in difficult conditions. I've always been amazed and cheered by their good works and I've been very happy to help them in their fundraising efforts."

Bruce Hornsby
Singer / Songwriter

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“I admire Seva's spirit of innovation. Seva is constantly looking for new ideas that can benefit the world, especially the poor, and they aren't afraid to try something that no one has ever tried before."

Dr. Muhammad Yunus
Nobel Prize Winner / Seva Partner / Founding Chairman of Grameen Health Services

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“I congratulate Seva Foundation for the magnificent work they continue to do."

Odetta
Legendary Folk Singer

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“Seva has done an incredible job all over the world helping people who really need it. I am proud to be one of the many who followed Wavy and his friends down this particular yellow brick road.”

David Crosby
Singer / Songwriter

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“Such dedication to others — how could you not love Seva and what they accomplish? Well done!”

Graham Nash
Singer / Songwriter

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Ama's Story
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Two out of three people who are blind are women and girls. Your compassion restored Ama's eyesight, and is helping to increase access to eye care for women around the globe.

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A Seva Story
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This micro-documentary explains the origins of Seva and our work to prevent and cure blindness around the world.

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Let There Be Sight
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Witness a Seva Eye Camp in the Himalayas of Nepal. In Let There Be Sight, Seva donor Turk Pipkin chronicles his journey with a Seva medical team to a remote surgical eye camp in Nepal's Himalayas where hundreds of people had their vision restored. Special thanks to musician and long-time Seva supporter Jackson Browne for use of his song "Doctor My Eyes."

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What Does Seva Mean...
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We asked Dr. Chundak Tenzing, Seva's Sight Program Director: "What does 'Seva' Mean to you?

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Sight in Cambodia
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Many Cambodia children do not have access to eye care services. Seva trains Cambodian doctors and provides infrastructure so that Cambodia can provide care to it's own citizens. Last year, over 70,000 children in Cambodia received eye examinations as a result of Seva's work. 1/2 of children who go blind in developing countries will die within the first year. By preventing and treating blindness, Seva provides opportunities for life to children around the world.

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For a Chance to See
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Dhana lives in one of the most isolated, impoverished villages on the planet, Bajura, Nepal, a stunning but unforgiving landscape he has not seen for five years. Dhana Kadka is blind due to cataracts. Despite this, he walked 10km through the rocky terrain of far west Nepal by feel and memory. Kadka learned that a group of Seva-supported eye doctors were coming for a special visit. So he made the perilous journey on foot for the chance to see.

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Eye Camps in Tibet
Seva helps restore sight for people in remote villages

This summer, Susan Erdmann — a member of the Board of our sister organization, Seva Canada — traveled to Tibet to observe one of the many mobile eye camps Seva sponsors each year.  The camps are an innovative way that Seva brings eye care services to people in remote areas of Tibet, Nepal and Cambodia.

Here is Susan's report on witnessing the joy of restoring sight to the blind:
 

The small Tibetan nomad town of Zhadoh lies on both sides of the Mekong River, not far from the river's headwaters, 14,500 feet above sea level.  At the end of August this year, four doctors and a Seva Tibet staff member traveled for many hours by difficult roads to reach this remote area.

I traveled at my own expense from Canada specifically to see two of the 25 eye camps Seva would hold this season.  The camp for people in the Zhadoh area was dubbed "Doug's Camp" because it was made possible by the generous donation of Seva donor, Doug Taylor.

The day after arrival, the doctors examined the eyes of the patients set for that day and checked their blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  Once cleared for surgery, the patients were given a number and, one by one, received drops to dilate their pupils, had their eyes anesthetized and finally had the cataract surgery, which sometimes took only 15 minutes.

Most of the patients were blind in one or both eyes, and most had been so for a long time.  There were six children under age 14, and other people ranging in age from 22 to 88 years old.  In all cases, the surgeries to replace the lens of the blind eye with an intraocular lens were successful — but what really happened was much more than the mechanics of repairing an eye or both eyes and restoring sight.

People's lives, in all cases, were so dramatically improved that they found it difficult to express their gratitude for the possibilities their lives now held.  A 31-year-old nun, once blind, said she could now take care of herself and free her 8-year-old niece to go to school.  A 10-year-old orphaned boy, unable to attend school since he was seven, will now continue his education.  A woman in her 70s, also totally blind, will now look after herself, freeing her daughters to take care of their own families.

Story after story can be told of freedom for the formerly blind patient and for the person or persons who had to look after them — all resulting from a 45-minute procedure, thanks to a generous donor and the doctors and nurses who volunteered their time, allowing for the surgery to be free of charge to the patient.  These patients were nomads, nuns, monks, farmers, parents and children, and orphans — all living on the edge, all in poverty, and sometimes wearing the only clothes they owned.

One thing they were all rich in was gratitude and kindness — happy for themselves, for each other, and grateful to the doctors, volunteers and Seva donors.

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