Unite For Sight Local Volunteer Opportunities
While receiving hands-on training in effective public health programs, our volunteers gain skills to become new leaders in public health. Volunteers experience the thrill of contributing to change on the highest level.
Unite For Sight has opportunities for volunteers of any age group to become involved, whether they provide community-based services in their local community, or advocate and fundraise to sponsor eye care for patients living in extreme poverty.
University Students, Graduate Students, High School Students, and Community Members:
North America, Europe, Australia
- Interested in a global focus? Global Impact Corps: Advocacy, Awareness, and Fundraising
- Interested in a local focus? Community-Based Chapters: Vision Screenings, Eye Health Education, and Fundraising
Elementary and Middle School Teachers and Students:
North America
As Featured On 
Global Impact Corps: Advocacy, Awareness, and Fundraising
Who is eligible? University Students, High School Students, and Community Members
Overview: Unite For Sight provides global health and development training to volunteers in its Global Impact Corps. The volunteers use professionally-designed educational and fundraising materials to mobilize individuals and communities to eliminate preventable blindness. 100% of the funds raised provide sight-restoring surgeries for patients living in extreme poverty. Individuals or groups may participate in the Global Impact Corps.
- Raise funds to provide sight-restoring surgeries for patients living in extreme poverty
- Receive global health and development training
- Educate your student body or community about international eye care needs
- Plan and host Unite For Sight events
Impact: Through education, awareness, and fundraising, volunteers in the Global Impact Corps help to reduce poverty in villages and expand opportunity to those whose sight is restored by Unite For Sight.
Staff Support and Quality Programs: Our staff works closely with the leader of each Global Impact Corps to establish effective, high impact programs. Global Impact Corps leaders learn the fundamentals of launching socially innovative programs, and we provide Global Impact Corps leaders and volunteers with ample guidance and training.
Click here to learn more about the Global Impact Corps >>
Apply To Start a Unite For Sight Global Impact Corps>>
Community-Based Chapters: Vision Screenings, Eye Health Education, and Fundraising
University Chapters (Undergraduate, Public Health, Optometry, and Medical Students)
Overview: Unite For Sight's university chapter volunteers are trained to provide community-based vision screenings and eye health education programs. The chapters offer vision screenings, educate children and adults about eye health and blindness prevention, and provide information and assistance to the medically underserved so that they can register for nationally avaialable free health coverage and receive complete eye exams by a doctor. In addition to community-based screening and education events, chapters also organize eyeglass drives and fundraise to provide sight-restoring eye care in developing countries. 100% of the funds raised provide sight-restoring surgeries for patients living in extreme poverty.
Chapter Structure: Chapters are comprised of at least 5 volunteers and at least one optometrist or ophthalmologist who serves in an advisory capacity. All chapter volunteers are required to complete Unite For Sight's pre-service training and orientation process, and only those who complete training are considered Unite For Sight volunteers.
Impact: Through community-based programs, each chapter provides vision screenings and eye health education to approximately 1,000 people per year. Most importantly, all those who are screened are matched with free health coverage programs so that they can have a complete eye exam by an eye doctor. Through fundraising for international programs, chapters also reduce poverty in villages and expand opportunity to those whose sight is restored by Unite For Sight.
Staff Support and Quality Programs: Our staff works closely with the leader of each chapter to establish effective, high-impact programs. Chapter leaders learn the fundamentals of launching socially innovative programs, and we provide chapter leaders and chapter volunteers with ample guidance and training. Our research, experience, and evaluation has enabled us to develop a highly successful model that ensures that patients receive the highest quality of care by locally available eye doctors through professional organizations such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Optometric Association.
2007-2008 Chapters of the Year: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (led by Trisha Patel) and Lassiter High School (led by Neha Bagadiya)
Click here to learn more about Community-Based Chapters >>
List of Unite For Sight chapters>>
High School Chapters
Overview: Unite For Sight's high school chapters focus on eliminating preventable blindness through eye health education programs in their school and local community, organizing an eyeglass drive, and raising funds to sponsor sight-restoring eye care in developing countries. 100% of the funds raised provide sight-restoring surgeries for patients living in extreme poverty.
Chapter Structure: Chapters are comprised of at least 5 vounteers and a high school teacher advisor. All chapter volunteers are required to complete Unite For Sight's pre-service training and orientation process, and only those who complete training are considered Unite For Sight volunteers..
Impact: High school chapters chapters provide eye health educaton programs to hundreds of children and adults each year. Through fundraising for international programs, chapters reduce poverty in villages and expand opportunity to those whose sight is restored by Unite For Sight.
Staff Support and Quality Programs: Our staff works closely with the leader of each chapter to establish effective, high-impact programs. Chapter leaders learn the fundamentals of launching socially innovative programs, and we provide chapter leaders and chapter volunteers with ample guidance and training.
Click here to learn more about Community-Based Chapters >>
Elementary and Middle School Eye Clubs
Who is eligible? K-8 Students and Teachers
Overview: K-8 Eye Clubs are engaged in eliminating preventable blindness globally. They collect eyeglasses that are prescribed by eye clinics in Africa and Asia. They also fundraise, and 100% of their fundraising efforts provide sight-restoring surgeries to patients living in extreme poverty. Eye Clubs are generally led by K-8 teachers or parents and can include an entire school class. Eye Clubs are comprised of at least 5 volunteers and a parent or teacher advisor..
Impact: Through fundraising for international programs, K-8 Eye Clubs reduce poverty in villages and expand opportunity to those whose sight is restored by Unite For Sight.
