We checked in with Rob to get the scoop on why he became involved with Operation Eyesight and what he’s looking forward to in his new role as Board Chair.

Q. What inspired you to join the Board of Directors?

A. I’ve been a supporter of Operation Eyesight since 2005, and I’ve made one trip to India and three trips to Africa. So when I was asked to be part of the Board, I was thrilled to be able to work more closely with the organization. I’ve always been very impressed at how far Operation Eyesight can stretch a dollar and the massive effect we are able to achieve with the resources we have.

Q. What is one of the most important things you have learned through your involvement with Operation Eyesight?

A. The most important, and really amazing, thing I’ve learned while being involved with Operation Eyesight is how much a relatively small group of people can achieve with a simple vision and an enormous amount of hard work. It’s been a significant inspiration in all areas of my life.

Q. What are some of the challenges Operation Eyesight will face in the next two years? How will these challenges be overcome?

A. We’re challenged with promoting the organization to a wider demographic and sharing our story with a larger audience. This is currently being addressed with the addition of fresh, young team members with great ideas.

Q. What are you most looking forward to as the new Chair of the Board?

A. I look forward to promoting the organization to a wider demographic and sharing our story with more people. I’m also excited to have the opportunity to work closely with such great individuals, both on the Board and within the organization.

Rob is the director and president of Maillot Homes, a Calgary-based custom home builder and land development company. He also worked in the oil and gas services industry for four years.

He grew up in Tripoli, Libya; Calgary, Canada; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which helped enhance his understanding of cultural and development issues. Rob founded the Bob Ohlson Centre for Sight in Visakhapatnam, India and spent three months visiting projects in Africa. He has a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Calgary.

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Luckily for us, we have the good fortune of finding inspiration from another source – our donors. Let me tell you about a young lady we met last week who gave us all the inspiration we need.

Kare is a grade four student at Strathcona Tweedsmuir School just outside of Calgary. She and her mom, Lola, visited our office on Halloween to learn more about Operation Eyesight. She was happy to meet costumed staff members, and asked great questions about our work as we feasted on a tasty potluck lunch.
Kare learned about our organization from Mrs. Hendricks, her music teacher, and was especially curious about what happens after we receive a donation.

Why? Because she was wondering how the $420 (yes, you read that right!) that came from her birthday party would be put to work. You see, to celebrate her recent ninth birthday, this generous, thoughtful child asked for donations to Operation Eyesight instead of presents!

“I would feel bad if I was blind and people cared more about presents than me being blind,” Kare explains. Kare’s friends and family responded generously.

When our Philanthropy team explained that her donation could go toward whatever she chose, she was thrilled. Without skipping a beat, Kare said she wanted to help other children.

As you can imagine, her family is very proud. “Kare is learning that it’s not all about self. She’s learning to think about how she can bless and impact the lives of others,” says her mom, Lola.

Not only will her generosity change the lives of children in Africa and India, but she’s filled up the “inspiration tanks” of all of our Calgary employees. Isn’t it incredible to think that philanthropy can start at age nine… or even younger?! Thank you, Kare! Keep up the great work.

Interested in learning how you can use a special occasion to raise support for Operation Eyesight? Take a look at this information.

The post From the mouths of babes appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Here are five highlights to check out:

1. How longtime donor Don McIver has helped strangers see avoidable blindness differently for over 30 years.
2. Why a blind Kenyan grandmother finally decided to have cataract surgery. Was her operation a success? Watch our photo essay to find out!
3. How generous Canadian donors made a huge contribution to a new eye hospital in Ghana (read part 1 and part 2 here).
4. Why being a grandparent helps you SEE the world differently.
5. How a blind Indian child found some hope and dignity.

We have many more heartwarming stories and great photos to share with you in the coming year, so please check back each week. Thank you for your support!

The post 5 stories that touched our hearts in 2012 appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Because of you, millions of people have avoided becoming needlessly blind. Girls and boys go to school, learn their ABCs, and play with their classmates. Men and women provide for their families and go about their lives. They have brighter futures because of you.

Here are just a few of our 2011 highlights.

In India, 2011 was the first full year of operations for our hospital-based community eye health programs, which are designed to provide comprehensive eye care and blindness prevention to India’s poorest. Last year, the programs screened almost 40,000 people and provided education in child care, nutrition and general health to almost 250,000 people.

This is a remarkable achievement, given that our health education program reached just 18,000 people in 2010.

Another 2011 highlight was the opening of India’s Little Flower Hospital eye department building. It will be a “centre of excellence” to serve the 32 million people in Kerala and surrounding states.

In Africa, we met our four-year target of completing 51 waterpoints in Kenya’s Narok district, including the amazing transformation of Ongata Naado. The tiny village went from a dusty, dry outpost with a ramshackle school to a progressive community with gardens, a water distribution service and a brand new school for 650 students. How? Operation Eyesight donors invested in a borehole and educating the community about taking care of this precious resource. See the pictures and read the full two-part story here and here.

Ongata Naado is just one example of more than 40 communities in Kenya and 50 in Zambia with similar stories – all because they worked with Operation Eyesight over the past several years. This is the kind of difference you are making to some of the world’s poorest people.

Our 2011 Report to Donors tells the full story of all that we accomplished together. As you read the report, I hope you’ll be as excited and as interested as I was! After all, it’s all thanks to you.

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