About NGO:

Sightsavers' vision is of a world where no one is blind from avoidable causes and where visually impaired people participate equally in society

Mission:
We are an international organization working with partners in developing countries to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for the disabled.

Sightsavers was founded in the 1950s by Sir John Wilson, with the express aim of restoring sight - wherever possible - in former Commonwealth countries. Sightsavers, popularly known as Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind currently works in over 30 countries.

Sightsavers work in India, which started in 1966, has supported the treatment of millions of persons with eye disorders and brought eye services to some of the least served areas of the country. In addition, many thousands of irreversibly blind people have received rehabilitation and educational support to enable them to lead lives of independence and dignity

Fund Usage:

One of Sightsavers objective is to mainstream the beneficiaries. In order to do so we focus on education across our India projects.

Sightsavers at the moment are piloting a district based model which integrates Sightsavers work with the government's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan.

In this model Sightsavers acts as facilitators to ensure appropriate implementation of the governments programme. If this model proves to be efficient, Sightsavers will gradually graduate its integrated education projects to a more cohesive district based projects.

Total Budget: 30 lacs per district

Impact:

Overcoming Stigma, Increasing Vision
Oftentimes it is the lack of information that keep families away from accessing eye care services. Such was the case for the Singh family in the Bangadsar village of Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Kuldeep, youngest in the Singh family, had been blind from birth with cataract. Nine-month-old Kuldeep wasn't the only member of the family to be found with sight problems. Four other children including Kuldeep's older sister were also severely visually impaired. "We took them to see the traditional healer, but he couldn't help us," said Hari Singh, head of the household and Kuldeep's grandfather. "We had no choice but to accept the situation."

The family was identified in the base line survey of one of Sightsavers project and later underwent diagnosis. All of the Singh children were identified as having cataract in both eyes. The older ones were taken to hospital in the nearby city of Dahod, and had successful surgery, supported by Sightsavers. However the doctors wanted to wait until Kuldeep was a few months older before they operated on him.

After surgery he shows signs that he can see, such as looking at the doctor's torch. "We are all celebrating," says Kuldeep's mother. "Five members of our family have new sight. We'd like Kuldeep to be a doctor when he grows up so that he can help restore vision and bring happiness to others."

Page Url :
http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/ngo24_rcsb.htm

Founded Year: 1970

Cause category: Disability

Our Supporters

• Sohana Islam