Thirteen-year-old Kanha Theara lives with her grandmother and aunt in Battambang Province, Cambodia. Life hasn’t been easy—her parents separated when she was young, and her mother works in Thailand to support the family.
When Kanha’s vision began to blur, she could no longer read or see the blackboard. For children, this is especially challenging: approximately 80% of what they learn is processed through vision, so poor eyesight can easily get in the way of learning and confidence.
Thankfully, her school partnered with the Samlot Community Eye Centre (CEC), supported by Seva Canada donors, to provide vision screenings. Catching vision problems early is life-changing, and even something as simple as a pair of glasses can make a huge difference—reducing the odds of failing a class by 44%.
At the CEC, Kanha received her first pair of glasses. The moment she put them on, her world came back into focus—and with it, her dream of becoming a teacher.
“Now I can see everything,” she said with a big smile. “I feel so happy and thankful. Thank you to Seva Canada, my teacher, and the staff at the Eye Centre. You gave me my vision back.”
Clear vision opens the door to learning, confidence, and opportunity—for Kanha, and for millions of children like her.
A simple pair of glasses brings joy, relief, confidence and hope. And yet, so many children are still waiting. With school in full swing, every day without clear sight is a day of lost learning.
Just $5 provides a child with glasses that will open up their world and their future.
Until December 3rd, the first $25,000 in donations up to $2,500 each will be matched both by Seva Canada’s board and our matching donor to triple your impact.
Our Vision is a world in which no one is needlessly blind or visually impaired.
We focus on sight because it’s solvable: 90% of vision loss can be prevented or treated.
Since 1982, Seva donors have given the power of sight to more than 5 million people through life-changing surgeries and provided eye care services to millions more.
Charity Intelligence named Seva Canada one of the Top 100 Highest Rated Charities in 2024, for the sixth consecutive year.
We have seen first-hand the enormous impact that Seva Canada’s efforts have made. Giving the gift of sight provides such a benefit not just to the individuals, but to the families and the entire communities. Lives are changed.
Gloria and Hugh Sutcliffe
Donors Since 2008
