Watch the Video
Watch more Seva Videos
Seva News
“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
"For nearly 40 years 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
"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
"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
"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
"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
“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
“I congratulate Seva Foundation for the magnificent work they continue to do."
Odetta
Legendary Folk Singer
“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
“Such dedication to others — how could you not love Seva and what they accomplish? Well done!”
Graham Nash
Singer / Songwriter
Sign-up for e-Updates!
Dr. Nicole Grasset Retrospective
July 1927 - August 2009
 |
|||
|
Nicole was an exceptional woman. As friends and colleagues received word of her passing and sent messages of condolence to her family, the impact of Nicole’s work and life became more and more apparent. |
|
|
|
Later, she witnessed the student and worker uprising in Paris, May 1968, and left a vivid account about her experiences. She took no part of the revolt, but was a bystander looking at the events with a curious and open mind.
She went to work for the International Red Cross in Biafra where she found herself under bombardment and described the hardship and famine there. The job that most affected her life was heading the ambitious World Health Organization smallpox eradication campaign in South-east Asia. She spent several years in India working 7 days a week organising the programme and seeking funds, and going into small villages to discover where the epidemic was resurging. Vaccination did the rest. For her outstanding work Nicole became an international figure. Perseverance, stamina and devotion to accomplish this unprecedented task won her recognition and esteem from her colleagues. Her personal ties with the team remain strong until today.
After smallpox was eradicated in the world, Nicole, along with SEVA colleagues and WHO consultants, carried out the Nepal Blindness Survey which was a scientifically sound survey on blindness and visual impairment. The result of the Survey was the forerunner of the development of the WHO Nepal Blindness Programme, of which she was the first WHO Programme Manager. This programme is hailed as one of the most successful and sustainable globally. It antedated the VISION 2020 Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness by almost 20 years, and provided a partnership model which is widely in place today.
Nicole had a particular passion for reaching children. Within the Nepal programme she designed a surveillance system for early detection of children suffering from vitamin A deficiency and other life and sight threatening conditions.
The focal point of Nicole’s whole life was helping others, in any and every way possible; leading ambitious programmes with an iron will, or helping a blind person from Nepal to attend school for the sight impaired, and as the son of an Afghan colleague still remembers, 20 years later, she helped him get a scholarship to university. For Nicole, nothing seemed impossible. Her optimism, sense of humour and joy of life will be missed by all who knew her.
Written by Nedd and Poppy Willard & R. Pararajasegaram
