Dear Seva Canada Community,
When I tell people about Seva Canada, they usually ask me how to spell and pronounce our name (it’s not as tricky as it sounds!), what it means, and how this idea relates to eye care.
The word Seva is unfamiliar to many folks outside of South Asia, but the idea is universal and usually immediately understood. Seva is a Sanskrit word that means “selfless service”. It’s the act of helping others without expecting anything in return, and it’s a central concept in both Hinduism and Sikhism. It’s our name, and it’s at the centre of everything we do.
Our supporters express Seva or service through donating, volunteering and spreading the word— to send the precious gift of sight to someone halfway across the world, whom they will never meet. The gift of vision, freely given.
Our staff and board share a “service mindset” in relation to our program partners, to support them as they both define and solve their own problems. The results are localized solutions and context-specific programs, which are only possible when we serve our partners, and not the other way around.
Our partners also have a service attitude toward their patients, regardless of their means or stature in society. They treat patients with dignity, and ensure they achieve quality visual outcomes in line with World Health Organization standards. The concept of Seva is perpetuated when these patients, the most important, but by no means the last person in the long chain of service get their sight and their life back and so regain the ability to GIVE back and be of service to others once again. There are many ways to perform Seva and relieve human suffering in the world, and vision care is our way. Everyone, everywhere deserves their best possible vision. Thank you for being with us in your Seva.
Liz Brant
Executive Director
