Our Approach
To restore sight and prevent blindness in low-and middle-income countries, we emphasize dignity. Our program partners and the people they serve must be true partners in the programs that impact their lives and their communities.
We foster development with dignity by empowering our global partners with decision-making autonomy and the authority to create and grow programs that will provide high-quality eye care for all in their communities. Our success is measured by the growth of programs, increased patient numbers, and the enhanced capabilities of local eye care professionals to serve their communities effectively.
We start by working with our local partners to understand their population’s needs and develop culturally-appropriate strategies to meet those needs.
The crucial next step is to provide our partners with the funding and expertise to provide eye care with excellence and equity.
This includes equipping hospitals, training personnel, funding programs, and educating partners in research, marketing, and fundraising.
Our guiding principle: make our partners leaders, and remain in the background ourselves.
I think the one thing which really stands out with Seva Canada, it is almost like a family relationship. We (Aravind) decided to abandon a hospital project for which Seva Canada had given money and go to a larger town to build a bigger hospital… Once we explained the rationale, there was a tremendous amount of welcoming and support of the revised decision. Not very many organisations would really do this if the notion of respect and dignity was not there.
Thulsiraj Ravilla
Aravind Eye Care System
Executive Director-LAICO
