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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The Passing of an Eye Care Pioneer:
Dr. Venkataswamy 1918 - 2006

Seva co-founder and longtime board member, Dr. G. Venkataswamy — fondly referred to by friends and associates as "Dr. V" — passed away on July 7 in Madurai, India, after a long illness. He was surrounded by his closest family members, and by his extended family at the Aravind Eye Hospital.

Vision, Inspiration and Leadership
Guided by the belief that service is a spiritual practice, Dr. V helped set in motion an international crusade against needless blindness.

In 1976, he founded the Aravind Eye Hospital, where he led the development of a self-sustaining model of affordable eye care services designed to prevent and cure needless blindness among those struggling in poverty. In 1978, Dr. V co-founded Seva Foundation, which set out on a mission to support and expand this pioneering approach to affordable health care.”


From its beginning in a rented house with 11 hospital beds, Aravind has grown to become a network of hospitals with over 1750 beds, serving a population of more than 50 million. Last year, Aravind performed over 190,000 eye surgeries and nearly 1.3 million outpatient services.

Seva and Aravind continue to work as partners, and Seva is now supporting the development of affordable eye care services in Nepal, Tibet, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Tanzania and Guatemala.

A Lifetime of Service
Dr. V was born in 1918 in a small village in South India. He received his medical degree from Stanley Medical College, Chennai, in 1944. He joined the Indian Army Medical Corps, but had to retire in 1948 after developing severe rheumatoid arthritis — a disease that left his fingers crippled. Despite his condition, he returned to medical school and earned a degree in ophthalmology. With hard work and determination, Dr. V trained himself to hold a scalpel and perform cataract surgery. In time, he personally performed over 100,000 successful eye surgeries.

He joined the faculty at Madurai Medical College as the head of the ophthalmology department, and later served as Vice Dean. He introduced a number of innovative programs which were later perfected at Aravind, including the outreach eye camps and a training program for ophthalmic assistants.

Dr. V's work has gained international recognition, and he has received numerous awards, including: the Helen Keller International Award, the IAPB Award, the International Blindness Prevention Award by the AAO, and the Padmashree Award from the Government of India.

Carrying the Work Forward
While we will miss Dr. V's smiling face and enthusiastic mentoring, we can take joy in knowing his spirit and his pioneering work will continue to serve people around the globe.

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