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Dear all,
I'm writing to inform you about international medical opportunities to help restore eyesight and prevent blindness in African, Asian, and Latin American countries. All persons over the age of 18 are welcome to apply, including premedical students, medical students, public health professionals, doctors, corporate professionals, nurses, graduate students, retired professionals, and others. Short and Long Term volunteer opportunities for physicians are available as well.
Contact [email protected] and www.uniteforsight.org for an application and details.
Dates:
Sichuan, China
December 28 - January 10 - Rolling Application Deadline
Morogoro Region, Tanzania
December 28 - January 10 - Rolling Application Deadline
Xela, Guatemala
Short and Long Term Volunteer Opportunities Available January through October 2005 (Flexible Dates)
Rolling Application Deadline
Buduburum Refugee Camp in Ghana (2 volunteer positions remaining)
December 28 - February 28, 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline (2 volunteer positions remaining)
February 15 - May 15 - Rolling Application Deadline
May 10 - August 15 - Rolling Application Deadline
Humjibre, Ghana (4 volunteer positions remaining)
February 1 - March 30, 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline
Nyamuswa, Tanzania (1 volunteer position remaining)
January 15 - March 15, 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline
Pobe, Benin (2 volunteer positions remaining)
January 15 - May 15, 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline
Guatemala, Ghana, Tanzania, Benin, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, India, and Thailand
Summer 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline
Winter 2005 (December 28 - January 10) Internship Descriptions
Tanzania (4 volunteer positions remaining)
Four Unite For Sight volunteers will participate in a low cost programme in the Morogoro Region of Tanzania to provide spectacles to the low income section of the community located in districts or regional suburban areas. A team of 10-14 local and non-local volunteers will provide eyeglasses to 1,000 patients. This program is coordinated with the ONA Network, a not-for-profit, non-government trust based in Australia that is dedicated to improving visual and eye health in Tanzania (http://www.ona.kabissa.org/).
On arrival in Tanzania, each volunteer will contribute Australian $500 (or equivalent in US dollars) to cover all expenses while in Tanzania. The expenses include accommodation, meals, transport within Tanzania, and leisure for the two weeks of stay in Tanzania. These will be organized in a team setting. Unused money will be refunded.
China (2 volunteer positions remaining)
Four Unite For Sight volunteers will distribute eyeglasses and implement eye health education programs for school children in Sichuan, China. Accommodation in China costs $5-$10 per day, and daily meal expenses are less than $5. Domestic flights in China will cost $125 one way to Sichuan, and the train will cost $40.
Spring 2005 Internship Descriptions
Buduburum Refugee Camp in Ghana (2 volunteer positions remaining)
In coordination with the local Liberian Refugee-run NGO ?Self-Help Initiatives For Sustainable Development? (SHIFSD), Unite For Sight is designing a comprehensive eye health program for children and teachers in the forty-three schools at the Buduburum Refugee Camp near Accra. The first Unite For Sight volunteers will arrive at the refugee camp on December 28, 2004 to distribute eyeglasses, screen for eye disease and coordinate treatment at an eye clinic, implement eye health education programs for children, and implement a Train-the-Trainer program for teachers in the schools. The Unite For Sight volunteers will be trained by ophthalmologists at the Christian Eye Clinic in Tema to screen for eye disease and prescribe eyeglasses.
At present, there is only one health clinic with a single qualified physician for the 82,000 residents at the Buduburum Refugee Camp. Because the population does not have an eye doctor available, Unite For Sight volunteers will screen the children for treatable eye conditions, including refractive error, congenital cataracts, xerophthalmia, trachoma, river blindness, and conjunctivitis, and coordinate their care by ophthalmologists at the newly established Christian Eye Clinic in Tema, Ghana.
While the children at the Buduburum Refugee Camp will be taught by Unite For Sight volunteers about eye anatomy and eye health, the teachers will be trained in basic visual acuity testing and participate in seminars about eye health so that they can recognize potential eye disease or visual acuity problems among their students and refer them to a doctor for treatment. The trained teachers will develop an ongoing, sustainable relationship with the ophthalmologists at the Christian Eye Clinic in Tema. The teachers will also be encouraged to include Unite For Sight?s educational curriculum about eye health in their classroom.
Humjibre (4 volunteer positions remaining) , Nyamuswa (1 volunteer position remaining), and Pobe (2 volunteer positions remaining)
In Humjibre, Ghana and Nyamuswa, Tanzania, volunteers will receive training and will then screen patients for operable cataracts, arrange for cataract surgeries, distribute eyeglasses and conduct eye health education in local schools. These programs are a continuation of very successful Unite For Sight cataract surgery program in Humjibre and Nyamuswa during Summer 2004.
In Pobe, Benin, volunteers will distribute eyeglasses, conduct eye health education in local schools, and coordinate a new cataract surgery program. This program is also a continuation of a successful Summer 2004 Unite For Sight program
Previous Unite For Sight Volunteers Share Their Experiences
?Unite For Sight?s volunteers announced the eye clinic at church and beat the gong gong to spread the word. As the clinic went on for the second week, word spread to other communities, and patients came to the clinic from as far away as two hours. Even after the clinic ended, people brought blind relatives from long distances.? ?Alison Polk-Williams, Summer 2004, Humjibre, Ghana
"My experience in Tanzania this summer was life-changing. It has solidified my commitment to pursue international public health and to reach out to underserved communities who cannot get care on their own. By screening people for cataracts, distributing eyeglasses, providing medications, and teaching eye health in schools, I gave hope to the village of Nyamuswa. Where advanced, high-tech care was but a dream, I showed that ophthalmic care, and health care in general, can be a reality for them, despite the poverty and lack of access to services. I can't imagine doing anything more worthwhile with my summer." -- Sachin Jain, Unite For Sight Volunteer, Summer 2004, Nyamuswa, Tanzania
?It was a wonderful experience working in Tanzania. The need for eyeglasses and other eye services is real and urgent. You sense it from the questions people ask, the requests they make and the stories they tell. Average wage is Tsh 48,000 (USD 43) while a pair of eyeglasses costs Tsh 30,000 (USD 27). People cannot afford eyeglasses. Misconceptions about eye surgeries remain. Yet, every Tanzanian I met has been very receptive to our programs. From the policy makers to the villagers, everyone supports our work, appreciates our efforts and invites us back to Tanzania. Sensing a need in the community is one thing, being supported and respected by the people made the internship very much more fulfilling.? ?Sally Ong, Unite For Sight Volunteer, Summer 2004, Tanzania
?Thailand was amazing. I always thought that I wanted to do international health care work, and thanks to this trip, I know that I want to be doing this kind of work for the rest of my life. The people were very friendly and appreciative, and our hosts were excellent. It was really neat to see that all my work of collecting and measuring the prescriptions of eyeglasses paid off. You should have seen the look on the faces of some of the children when they got their glasses on for the first time!? ?Melissa Karakash, Unite For Sight Volunteer, Summer 2004, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Contact [email protected] and www.uniteforsight.org for an application and details.
I'm writing to inform you about international medical opportunities to help restore eyesight and prevent blindness in African, Asian, and Latin American countries. All persons over the age of 18 are welcome to apply, including premedical students, medical students, public health professionals, doctors, corporate professionals, nurses, graduate students, retired professionals, and others. Short and Long Term volunteer opportunities for physicians are available as well.
Contact [email protected] and www.uniteforsight.org for an application and details.
Dates:
Sichuan, China
December 28 - January 10 - Rolling Application Deadline
Morogoro Region, Tanzania
December 28 - January 10 - Rolling Application Deadline
Xela, Guatemala
Short and Long Term Volunteer Opportunities Available January through October 2005 (Flexible Dates)
Rolling Application Deadline
Buduburum Refugee Camp in Ghana (2 volunteer positions remaining)
December 28 - February 28, 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline (2 volunteer positions remaining)
February 15 - May 15 - Rolling Application Deadline
May 10 - August 15 - Rolling Application Deadline
Humjibre, Ghana (4 volunteer positions remaining)
February 1 - March 30, 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline
Nyamuswa, Tanzania (1 volunteer position remaining)
January 15 - March 15, 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline
Pobe, Benin (2 volunteer positions remaining)
January 15 - May 15, 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline
Guatemala, Ghana, Tanzania, Benin, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, India, and Thailand
Summer 2005 - Rolling Application Deadline
Winter 2005 (December 28 - January 10) Internship Descriptions
Tanzania (4 volunteer positions remaining)
Four Unite For Sight volunteers will participate in a low cost programme in the Morogoro Region of Tanzania to provide spectacles to the low income section of the community located in districts or regional suburban areas. A team of 10-14 local and non-local volunteers will provide eyeglasses to 1,000 patients. This program is coordinated with the ONA Network, a not-for-profit, non-government trust based in Australia that is dedicated to improving visual and eye health in Tanzania (http://www.ona.kabissa.org/).
On arrival in Tanzania, each volunteer will contribute Australian $500 (or equivalent in US dollars) to cover all expenses while in Tanzania. The expenses include accommodation, meals, transport within Tanzania, and leisure for the two weeks of stay in Tanzania. These will be organized in a team setting. Unused money will be refunded.
China (2 volunteer positions remaining)
Four Unite For Sight volunteers will distribute eyeglasses and implement eye health education programs for school children in Sichuan, China. Accommodation in China costs $5-$10 per day, and daily meal expenses are less than $5. Domestic flights in China will cost $125 one way to Sichuan, and the train will cost $40.
Spring 2005 Internship Descriptions
Buduburum Refugee Camp in Ghana (2 volunteer positions remaining)
In coordination with the local Liberian Refugee-run NGO ?Self-Help Initiatives For Sustainable Development? (SHIFSD), Unite For Sight is designing a comprehensive eye health program for children and teachers in the forty-three schools at the Buduburum Refugee Camp near Accra. The first Unite For Sight volunteers will arrive at the refugee camp on December 28, 2004 to distribute eyeglasses, screen for eye disease and coordinate treatment at an eye clinic, implement eye health education programs for children, and implement a Train-the-Trainer program for teachers in the schools. The Unite For Sight volunteers will be trained by ophthalmologists at the Christian Eye Clinic in Tema to screen for eye disease and prescribe eyeglasses.
At present, there is only one health clinic with a single qualified physician for the 82,000 residents at the Buduburum Refugee Camp. Because the population does not have an eye doctor available, Unite For Sight volunteers will screen the children for treatable eye conditions, including refractive error, congenital cataracts, xerophthalmia, trachoma, river blindness, and conjunctivitis, and coordinate their care by ophthalmologists at the newly established Christian Eye Clinic in Tema, Ghana.
While the children at the Buduburum Refugee Camp will be taught by Unite For Sight volunteers about eye anatomy and eye health, the teachers will be trained in basic visual acuity testing and participate in seminars about eye health so that they can recognize potential eye disease or visual acuity problems among their students and refer them to a doctor for treatment. The trained teachers will develop an ongoing, sustainable relationship with the ophthalmologists at the Christian Eye Clinic in Tema. The teachers will also be encouraged to include Unite For Sight?s educational curriculum about eye health in their classroom.
Humjibre (4 volunteer positions remaining) , Nyamuswa (1 volunteer position remaining), and Pobe (2 volunteer positions remaining)
In Humjibre, Ghana and Nyamuswa, Tanzania, volunteers will receive training and will then screen patients for operable cataracts, arrange for cataract surgeries, distribute eyeglasses and conduct eye health education in local schools. These programs are a continuation of very successful Unite For Sight cataract surgery program in Humjibre and Nyamuswa during Summer 2004.
In Pobe, Benin, volunteers will distribute eyeglasses, conduct eye health education in local schools, and coordinate a new cataract surgery program. This program is also a continuation of a successful Summer 2004 Unite For Sight program
Previous Unite For Sight Volunteers Share Their Experiences
?Unite For Sight?s volunteers announced the eye clinic at church and beat the gong gong to spread the word. As the clinic went on for the second week, word spread to other communities, and patients came to the clinic from as far away as two hours. Even after the clinic ended, people brought blind relatives from long distances.? ?Alison Polk-Williams, Summer 2004, Humjibre, Ghana
"My experience in Tanzania this summer was life-changing. It has solidified my commitment to pursue international public health and to reach out to underserved communities who cannot get care on their own. By screening people for cataracts, distributing eyeglasses, providing medications, and teaching eye health in schools, I gave hope to the village of Nyamuswa. Where advanced, high-tech care was but a dream, I showed that ophthalmic care, and health care in general, can be a reality for them, despite the poverty and lack of access to services. I can't imagine doing anything more worthwhile with my summer." -- Sachin Jain, Unite For Sight Volunteer, Summer 2004, Nyamuswa, Tanzania
?It was a wonderful experience working in Tanzania. The need for eyeglasses and other eye services is real and urgent. You sense it from the questions people ask, the requests they make and the stories they tell. Average wage is Tsh 48,000 (USD 43) while a pair of eyeglasses costs Tsh 30,000 (USD 27). People cannot afford eyeglasses. Misconceptions about eye surgeries remain. Yet, every Tanzanian I met has been very receptive to our programs. From the policy makers to the villagers, everyone supports our work, appreciates our efforts and invites us back to Tanzania. Sensing a need in the community is one thing, being supported and respected by the people made the internship very much more fulfilling.? ?Sally Ong, Unite For Sight Volunteer, Summer 2004, Tanzania
?Thailand was amazing. I always thought that I wanted to do international health care work, and thanks to this trip, I know that I want to be doing this kind of work for the rest of my life. The people were very friendly and appreciative, and our hosts were excellent. It was really neat to see that all my work of collecting and measuring the prescriptions of eyeglasses paid off. You should have seen the look on the faces of some of the children when they got their glasses on for the first time!? ?Melissa Karakash, Unite For Sight Volunteer, Summer 2004, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Contact [email protected] and www.uniteforsight.org for an application and details.
