A Note from Seva’s Executive Director

So much of what makes Seva a dynamic organization is the opportunity to make connections among our staff, volunteers and partner organizations, and to share those learnings throughout our wider Seva family.

These interconnections are obvious throughout this newsletter. Just look at the amazing history shared by longtime Seva partners Dr. Dick Litwin and Dr. Venkataswamy, founder of India’s flagship Aravind Eye Care System. Or the knowledge-sharing across Seva partner organizations in India and Cambodia, where a younger program is benefitting from the experience of a more established eye institute that also serves rural populations in areas with limited resources.

Seva staff, board and volunteers are also always tracking trends and research that go beyond – and inform – our work. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness recently published an article in Lancet Global Health showing that global rates of preventable blindness will triple by 2050. This stark figure caught our attention, and fuels our commitment to build capacity around the world to address this growing need.

Seva has been working globally to eliminate preventable blindness since 1978. While the report calls for more spending to increase access to sight-saving services, Seva’s mission for nearly 40 years has been to find affordable ways to expand high-quality and comprehensive eye care to communities in need.

In that time, Seva has restored sight to 4 million people worldwide. And with projections showing that more than 114 million are likely to be blind by 2050, it’s clear that our work is making a vital contribution – perhaps now more than ever before.

Yours in Service,

Kate