Meet Sophie and Raya, two Grade 11 students from a high school in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland. They’re proving that meaningful change can start right in the classroom.
“We were really drawn to Seva Canada’s mission,” they shared. “After doing some research, we realized how powerful their work is in preventing blindness and restoring sight around the world.”
That spark led to the creation of their school club, Gift of Vision, which now includes 20–30 dedicated members and volunteers. The group is working to raise awareness about global vision loss—an issue Sophie and Raya say isn’t talked about nearly enough.
“Having the privilege to see is something a lot of us take for granted,” they explained. “Learning that hundreds of millions of people worldwide are experiencing preventable or treatable vision loss really opened our eyes.” Through their research, the students learned how disproportionately vision impairment affects people in underserved communities in low- and middle-income countries, and how access to basic eye care can dramatically change lives.
Since launching the club, the Gift of Vision team has already begun fundraising through bake sales, with more initiatives on the horizon. Social events and additional school-wide fundraisers are in the works, all aimed at supporting Seva Canada’s mission and spreading awareness among their peers.
For Sophie and Raya, the impact goes beyond the funds raised. “The most rewarding part of creating this club has been giving back to the community in a positive and meaningful way,” they said. “It feels good knowing we’re contributing to something bigger than ourselves.”
Looking ahead, the club’s goal is to inspire other students to care about global health and take action. By combining education, advocacy, and fundraising, the Gift of Vision club hopes to play a small but important role in helping give the gift of sight to communities in need around the world.
Seva Canada is grateful for students like Sophie and Raya. Their curiosity, passion and drive remind us how real change often starts with becoming aware of a problem and choosing to act
