Sightsavers’ Through Different Eyes goes online

Announces photography contest on Facebook

Through Different Eyes, an awareness initiative by Sightsavers has moved online with a photography contest on popular social networking website, Facebook.

Starting August 2012, it encourages Facebook users to capture, share and describe the moments that define the ‘Joy of Seeing’. Moments those are worth cherishing and sharing.

Log onto Sightsavers India page (www.facebook.com/sightsaversindia) to get started. The best photograph will become an official Sightsavers wallpaper and an e-card.

The photograph with the maximum number of votes will be selected as the winning photograph. It will also be mentioned on the Sightsavers Facebook page as well as on the website.

Commenting on the contest, Ms. Elizabeth Kurian, CEO Sightsavers India said, “80% of all visual impairment can be avoided or treated. But lack of awareness makes blindness in India a problem worse than it should be. Through Different Eyes is an attempt to create awareness that simple, primary eye care can bring back the joy of seeing to many thousands. Taking this initiative online will help us reach out to many more people and include them in our aim to eliminate avoidable blindness”.

Through Different Eyes, was launched earlier in the year as a photography exhibition by ten child photographers who had their sight restored through vital treatment supported by Sightsavers.

About Sightsavers

Sightsavers is a global development organisation working to eliminate avoidable blindness and to ensure that people who are irreversibly blind receive the support they need to lead lives of independence and dignity.  Sightsavers has been working in India since 1966 on eye health and has reached out to over 35 million people.

Today, Sightsavers partner over 100 organisations across 17 states in India bringing eye healthcare, educational support, counselling, training and leadership development to visually impaired people in some of the least served areas of the country.

Sightsavers work in a sustainable way to promote lasting change – by strengthening existing health systems, seeking to advocate with and influence governments and by demonstrating best practises. They network with like-minded organisations to enable exchange of ideas and to advocate for the rights of the disabled.

Sightsavers believes in promoting indigenous technologies in eye healthcare enabling a wider reach of health services in India.