This evening we're heading to YVR with the 3 ERG boxes and to say goodbye to our donors as they head off on Seva's first donor trip. They'll spend 3 weeks in Nepal seeing the sights and also visiting the eye-care programs. This group is truly turning their sight-seeing trip into a sight-saving trip. Not only are they carrying important equipment, through this trip they are funding a primary eye-care centre in a district in far western Nepal where there is currently no eye care. The eye centre will be established in Darchula, a district of over 120,000 people located in the remote western hills, 600 km from the nearest eye hospital in Geta. Nepal is among the poorest countries of the world. The country’s GDP per capita is only $250 US and 38% of the population live below the poverty line, the poorest of them in the hilly areas. In Nepal as in other less-developed countries, people with disabilities such as blindness are extremely vulnerable and at an especially high risk of both living in poverty and being caught in situations of conflict. They often cannot generate income. Because they often cannot care for themselves, they even inflict poverty on other family members who are obliged to stay home to look after the disabled person instead of contributing to the household income. The donors on this trip should know that, thanks to their generosity, they will be changing people's lives in Nepal for many years to come. Bon voyage and safe travels.