Fourteen-year-old Grace Asempah and her mother, Mercy, live in the small town of Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana. Grace attends St. Mary’s School in the same town.

Grace used to struggle in school every day. Her teachers became concerned with her poor academic performance, and, after learning of Grace’s failing grades, even Mercy began to think that her daughter was unintelligent. She considered pulling Grace out of school so she could learn a trade instead. Little did she know that Grace was actually having trouble in school because she couldn’t see to read her assignments.

Thankfully, an outreach team from Watborg Eye Services conducted an eye screening program at St. Mary’s School. Through an eye examination, they discovered that Grace had uncorrected refractive error. Simply put, she needed eyeglasses.

Grace admitted that she was having difficulty seeing the backboard and that she would sometimes ask friends to read for her before she could complete her assignments. Mercy was relieved to hear that her daughter’s academic performance could be improved after all; she just needed a pair of eyeglasses to correct her vision.

Thanks to Operation Eyesight’s donors, Grace received a pair of brand new, custom-fitted prescription eyeglasses. Now, rather than struggle to read her assignments, Grace is busy making up for her past grades. She continues to go to school and has a bright future ahead of her!

This holiday season, you can team up at the office or as a family to sponsor a school eye screening for $250. School screenings help to ensure that eye conditions are caught and treated as early as possible. And for just $20, you can provide students with prescription eyeglasses. These gits are a wonderful investment in the future of Arica and India! Visit our Gift Guide to learn more.

Next Tuesday is GivingTuesday – a special day dedicated to giving back to the global community. Most people have heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, two days that kick off the holiday shopping season. But on December 2, those in Canada and across the world will kick off the holiday giving season with GivingTuesday.

All of us at Operation Eyesight are very excited to be participating in this annual event for the first time. Our goal is to raise enough funds to be able to declare 10 villages in India free of avoidable blindness! What this means is that anyone in the village who was suffering from unnecessary blindness, or was at risk of going blind due to preventable causes, will be treated. To make this happen, we are calling on your support to help us raise $11,050.

The more money we raise together on GivingTuesday, the more people we can help! Please donate or organize a fundraising event, and help us shine a light on the issue of avoidable blindness. And don’t forget to tag your social media posts and tweets with #GivingTuesday and #OperationEyesight!

Together, we can give back to the global community. Together, we CAN eliminate avoidable blindness!

 

Christopher Tengwa, 57, lives in the Tulonga village of Sinazongwe district, Zambia. He works as a peasant farmer to provide for his family, including his 11 children.

Christopher and his family used to live in the Zambezi floodplain where the land was fertile, but the Zambian government’s construction of the gigantic Kariba Dam forced them upland where water was scarce and their only source, the Sikebo stream, would often dry up.

Every day was a challenge for Christopher and his family to find water for themselves and their livestock. They were only able to survive by digging into the banks of the stream to create shallow wells. Even then, the water they managed to find brought with it diarrhea and fostered other diseases such as trachoma, a bacterial infection that causes blindness.

Fortunately, all of that changed in 2013 when, thanks to donor support, Operation Eyesight dug a borehole in the village.

“The borehole brought positive things to my life, to my family and to the community at large,” says Christopher. “We now have clean water to wash our faces, bathe, cook and do many other things.”

In addition, community members receive ongoing education on the importance of sanitation and eye health.

“We are now likely to have a healthy village,” says Christopher. “We thank Operation Eyesight for the great services and development you have brought to this community!”

 

 

 

Today, as we observe Remembrance Day in Canada and many other nations around the world, there are two words on my mind: “remembrance” and “gratitude.” And those words usher in memories of two Operation Eyesight donors who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Every year, Heather Arseneault makes a donation to Operation Eyesight in memory of her late parents, Hazel and Alastair MacDonald. A few months ago, we had the privilege of speaking with Heather and hearing the details of her parents’ incredible love story.

Born in the early 1920s, Hazel and Alastair both grew up in Winnipeg, MB. They had attended the same high school, however, it wasn’t until the war brought them both to Europe that they actually met. Hazel was an entertainer with the W-Debs and Alastair (known as Mac by his flying buddies) was a bomb aimer, both with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

At one of the W-Deb performances, Alastair recognized the "short one on the right" as a girl from Winnipeg. That night, Alastair went back to his barracks and told his fly mates that he had met the woman he was going to marry. And so the story goes…

On April 14, 1945, Hazel and Alastair were married in a bombed out church in London, England – the necessary church in London for their legal marriage certificate. A second ceremony was held in another church where their friends could attend.

“My parents had a fairy tale life right from the beginning,” says Heather.

After the war, they returned to Canada, following Alastair’s working career from Saskatchewan, to B.C. and Alberta, and then to Ontario. After two decades in their home country, an international job posting took them to Johannesburg, South Africa. They later moved to Stamford, Connecticut and eventually retired in Vancouver, B.C. in their early 70s. Meanwhile, they travelled the world.

Hazel and Alastair passed away in 2000 and 2013, respectively. They were deeply loved by their friends and family who remember them as generous donors with a door that was always open.

“They were always giving to and caring for total strangers if they saw them in need,” explains Heather. “And that’s what charity is all about.”

Heather recalls the time her father brought two hitchhikers home for breakfast, and the time he invited two strangers from the airport to stay at their place for the night, as the couple had been bumped from their flight.

“Dad was a real character with a big heart,” she says.

Much of Hazel and Alastair’s teachings – charity being one of them – have been carried on by Heather and her two sisters in their honour.

Operation Eyesight was Hazel’s favourite charity. She and Alastair often made contributions to Operation Eyesight in the names of their six grandchildren. Hazel also hosted and helped organize fundraisers.

Heather says the reason her mother was so passionate about Operation Eyesight’s work was that she wore corrective lenses herself; she wanted those less fortunate than her to regain the precious gift of sight as well.

“Since Mom and Dad have passed, there’s been a lot of tearful moments, a lot of laughter and a lot of story sharing,” says Heather. She’s thankful to have had such amazing parents as role models. She’s already started encouraging her own children to continue to give for a third generation.

“They say it starts at home, but it’s not always close by,” says Heather. “You can give to those you know, those you may meet, and even those whose path you will never cross. I know that because of the household I grew up in.”

Thank you for sharing your family’s story with us, Heather. Your parents were truly remarkable people, and we are so happy to hear that they’ve passed their lessons of giving onto their children and grandchildren. Thank you to you and your family for supporting Operation Eyesight for what will soon be three full generations! 

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Pat Gee, a life-long supporter of Operation Eyesight, on April 10, 2014, at age 94. Pat was inspired to support Operation Eyesight when she met Art Jenkyns, who spoke at her church, Oak Bay United, in Victoria. She was moved by Art’s slideshow that showed the look on a child’s face when that child was able to see for the first time, a memory she often shared with her children.

“She believed that you could make a difference with a small donation,” recalls Pat’s daughter Maureen Hill. Pat was very active in Victoria, giving presentations and showing slides for schools and communities. She fundraised in many creative ways, selling canna lilies from her garden and organizing garage sales and church sales of her needlework. Her husband Jim contributed woodwork projects, and was also active in volunteer work. Together they were involved in collecting eyeglasses and they hosted Operation Eyesight’s visitors in their home, including the Gullisons.

After retiring from a 30-year career as a dance instructor, Pat became a dedicated ambassador for Operation Eyesight, and served as an honorary board member. She liked that Operation Eyesight was a Canadian charity, and that it was making such a difference in the lives of so many children and their families. When she moved into a care home, she made sure she would receive Sightlines, and told her caregivers and fellows all about Operation Eyesight. When she passed away, she asked that donations be made to Operation Eyesight in her memory.

“Pat always had a singular strength of conviction,” says Maureen. “She was always a person who wanted to make a difference.” Maureen says Pat was a good public speaker, and remembers her doing cross stitching for her grandchildren that read “Think of others first.” Maureen and her husband Ron have been inspired by Pat, knowing that her dedication indicated that Operation Eyesight is really something special. Maureen now donates to Operation Eyesight.

We are so glad to have amazing donors like Pat and Maureen, and we’re so thankful for their support. We’re thrilled when they pass down their values to their children. Together, you are saving sight and preventing blindness. We hope you know that your donations are helping so many people. Thank you, Pat and Maureen!

When you can’t see clearly, learning to read becomes a challenge beyond a child’s ability. And when your family is so desperately poor you can’t afford food, purchasing eyeglasses becomes an impossibility.

That’s where our kind-hearted donors make such a difference! Our supporters share our ongoing concern about children like Paul Omari who have vision deficiencies.

Paul is a seven-year-old boy who lives with his father in rural Kenya. Paul never could see well, so his father never sent him to school. One day, life changed!

Teacher Ben Simiyu saw Paul walking slowly along a road and recognized that the boy had a problem seeing clearly. He encouraged Paul to attend school, but the child became frustrated when he was unable to read the board and had to hold a book right up to his eyes.

After talking to Paul’s father, Ben took the boy to Operation Eyesight partner Kitale District Hospital, 40 km away. Paul was examined and received eyeglasses at no cost, thanks to our loyal and compassionate donors!

Today he attends school regularly and can clearly read the board. Paul and his teacher Ben are grateful to Operation Eyesight’s generous donors who helped him receive eyeglasses. Thank you!

Every $20 you donate can purchase new, custom-fitted prescription eyeglasses for more children like Paul. Learn more about how you can help by visiting our website here.

She’s run, climbed, biked, swum, broken a Guinness World Record and has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Norma Bastidas, long-time Operation Eyesight supporter and friend, is truly an inspiration to others. When asked who her inspiration is, Norma is quick to answer: “My kids.” Norma, who lives in Delta, B.C., is a full-time mom of two boys. Her oldest son, Karl, was diagnosed with a blinding eye condition known as cone-rod dystrophy eight years ago. Unfortunately, his blindness is incurable – but he hasn’t let that get in the way of fulfilling his dreams! Karl, now 19, is studying visual arts in college. While he’s still trying to discover his speciality, he hopes to be a sculptor or a painter someday. “When he announced that he wanted to be a visual artist, people thought he was crazy,” says Norma. “But he was unshakable. He committed to doing it, and he never wavered.” Karl has a guide dog to help him get around. He never gets frustrated or complains. Instead, his confidence and passion shine through. Norma’s 16-year-old son, Hans, is also ambitious. He plans to go into architecture after he graduates from high school, and he recently started training for downhill bike racing. “My kids understand that you can’t just jump into things,” explains Norma. “They see it takes a lot of preparation and they take things seriously. They pursue their dreams, and they pursue them hard.” Norma herself has been training for ultra-marathons, triathlons and the like for eight years. Seeing her sons’ confidence and ambition makes it easy for her to continue. “My kids are incredible,” she adds. “We’re lucky to have each other. We make a great team.” Norma recognizes that, as a single parent, there are limitations; she’s had to work hard to provide for herself and her kids. Having overcome her own challenges, she is able to sympathize with others. “When I hear of someone struggling, I can honestly understand what they’re going through,” she says. “I understand that at any given moment, every single comfort I have can all disappear if things were to take a turn for the worse.” When she hears of situations that require immediate action, Norma’s the first one to jump in and help. It’s no surprise that all of her competitions and record-setting endeavors are done in support of her favourite charities. In 2009, Norma completed the 777 Run for Sight, seven ultra-marathons on seven continents in seven months, which raised funds for Operation Eyesight and two other non-profits dedicated to vision issues.

Through her research, Norma had learned the startling stats about preventable blindness and the lack of eye care in developing countries. “It bothered me as a mother,” explains Norma. “I was struggling – and I still struggle – waiting for a cure for my son’s blindness. I couldn’t imagine being in the position where my child could be cured, but I just didn’t have the money to take him to the doctor.” The 777 Run for Sight was challenging and at times painful, but Norma remained focused on the plight of the people she was determined to help. “I understand that there is pain and suffering, but pain stop; it’s a choice. What’s happening in places like India and Africa is suffering.” Next up, Norma will race 135 miles (217 km) across Death Valley, the lowest, driest and hottest place in North America. Her goal is to place top three female, meaning she’ll have to complete the race in under 32 hours. Despite her success and all the media attention she has received, Norma remains humble. “It’s a privilege to be fit and have the ability to do these things,” she says. “A surgeon does what a surgeon does. This is a way that I can help.” Thank you for your support, Norma! We are all inspired by your incredible determination and unwavering passion. We wish you the best of luck in your race across Death Valley!

“We’re called the pretty church on the ocean, but we’re more than a pretty church,” says Jan Volker, chairperson of St. Francis-in-the-Wood’s Social Concerns Committee. We could not agree more! The church, located in West Vancouver, BC, has been supporting Operation Eyesight for almost 25 years. “We really believe in Operation Eyesight’s projects,” says Jan. “The work you do is sustainable. You get involved in the communities where you are, teaching people while you’re there, and we value that.” A few years ago, Dan Parlow, chair of Operation Eyesight’s Board of Directors, met with Jan and the rest of the committee. Jan says the meeting gave them a personal connection with Operation Eyesight. “The fact that an organization would take the time to do that was very meaningful to us,” she explains. Jan says that the work Operation Eyesight does to restore people’s sight also strikes a chord with the congregation because everyone’s eyesight changes as they age. The church committee, a small group of seven, is a creative bunch – planning everything from bake sales and silent auctions to garden tours and yoga classes. Their biggest fundraiser of the year is the “Auction of Promises,” where people in the congregation promise to do something for the winning bidder. “People can’t wait for the auction each year,” says Jan. Participants have dinner and try to outbid each other for items such as accommodations in Whistler, BC for the weekend, homemade dessert every month for a year, flamenco dance lessons or a crabbing trip for six people. “It’s incredible what people come up with,” adds Jan. “Some of the items sell for a couple thousand dollars!”

World Sight Day is just three days away! To mark the occasion, we’re holding a public celebration event in Kanapur, a village located in Telangana State, India. The village will be declared avoidable blindness free!

What does this mean? It means that anyone in the village who was suffering from unnecessary blindness, or was at risk of going blind due to preventable causes, will have been treated. Thanks to our incredible donors, an entire village will be set free of avoidable blindness. Thank you!

Below are photos of the work that we, in collaboration with our partner St. Gregorios Balagram Eye Hospital, are doing in Kanapur in advance of World Sight Day.

Our mission to eliminate avoidable blindness on a sustainable basis from Kanapur aligns with this year’s World Sight Day theme, “No More Avoidable Blindness.”  In fact, our proposal to hold a public celebration event in Kanapur was recently awarded the Innovation Excellence Award by Vision 2020 India, a national eye health advocacy group that has endorsed our Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Program in India.

We don’t just talk about eliminating avoidable blindness; we’re doing it. And we look forward to celebrating our achievements – made possible by our generous donors – on World Sight Day!

Margaret, who has been giving to Operation Eyesight for 25 years, says she has been a loyal donor for several reasons.

It runs in the family. Margaret’s mother also gave to Operation Eyesight before she passed away in 2003. Although she can’t remember for sure, Margaret has a hunch that it was her mother who first introduced her to the organization’s work.

Margaret’s great-uncle was a doctor in India where he established a hospital for people with leprosy. Margaret says she has a soft spot for people in India because of the work he did there. “That’s another reason I support Operation Eyesight,” she says. “You do such great work for such poor people.”

Margaret served as a public health nurse for 30 years, mostly working in rural areas around Taber, Alberta, Canada, where she still resides. In fact, she went into nursing training with Linda Jenkyns, daughter of Operation Eyesight’s founder, Art Jenkyns.

Now retired, Margaret says she can relate to Operation Eyesight’s community health workers. “They’re doing their part in that area of the world while I did my part here.” She recounts seeing patients in the hospital with limited eyesight, explaining that her profession spurred her desire to give to Operation Eyesight as well.

“The fact that Operation Eyesight is actually restoring people’s sight – people who haven’t been able to see or see clearly, and all the sudden they’re getting their sight back – that’s incredible,” she explains.

Margaret has two friends who lost their sight due to macular degeneration.

“I can’t think of anything worse than not being able to see,” she says. “I can’t imagine what it would be like not to be able to see out and about, or to see your own family.”

She says it’s a great feeling to know that she’s a part of Operation Eyesight’s work. “I guess that’s why I’ve kept giving over the years,” she explains. “So I can look back and feel like I did something for someone somewhere.”

“If others are able to give to Operation Eyesight too, we can help more people together,” Margaret adds.

Operation Eyesight wouldn't be here if not for over 50 years of benevolence on behalf of people like Margaret. Thank you for your generous and loyal support!