University & High School Chapters
Unite For Sight Chapter Volunteers Are Young Leaders of Social Change
University (Undergraduate, Public Health, Optometry, and Medical Students) and High School Students
Volunteers May Participate in North America, Europe, or Australia
Our staff works closely with the leader of each chapter to establish effective, high-impact programs. Our research, experience, and evaluation has enabled us to develop a highly successful program that ensures that patients receive the highest quality of care.
What are Unite For Sight chapters?
Unite for Sight chapters are established by college students, medical students, public health and other graduate students, as well as by high school students. Unite For Sight offers a unique opportunity to bring an international nonprofit organization to your community or campus. As a Unite For Sight leader, you will empower your local community to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness.
Unite For Sight's university chapters provide free visual acuity screenings, educate children and adults about eye health and blindness prevention, and encourage the medically underserved to register for free health coverage so that they can receive complete eye exams by eye doctors. Vision education programs are held in conjunction with vision screenings to enhance the value of vision screenings. In addition to screening and education events, chapters also organize eyeglass drives and fundraise to provide sight-restoring eye care in developing countries.
Unite For Sight's high school chapters focus on eliminating preventable blindness through eye health education programs, eyeglass drives, and raising funds to sponsor sight-restoring eye care in developing countries.
Who can start a chapter?
Any undergraduate, public health, optometry, medical, or high school student in North America, Europe, or Australia is eligible to start a chapter of Unite For Sight. Chapters implement eye health programs in their local community, collect eyeglasses, and fundraise to provide sight-restoring eye care in developing countries.
Additionally, elementary and middle school students can start a "Unite For Sight Eye Club" to collect eyeglasses and fundraise to restore sight for patients living in extreme poverty in the developing world. Elementary and middle school students can learn about starting a Unite For Sight Eye Club: http://www.uniteforsight.org/start-a-chapter/eye-clubs
As a chapter volunteer, what will I do?
You will participate in Unite For Sight's vision screening and vision education programs, which are held in community centers such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens, schools, libraries, and health clinics. You will also raise funds to sponsor sight-restoring surgeries for patients living in extreme poverty in Ghana and India.
Where does Unite For Sight have chapters?
A complete list of Unite For Sight's chapters during the 2008-2009 academic year can be seen online at http://www.uniteforsight.org/start-a-chapter/list
How do I start a chapter of Unite For Sight?
- Submit an application to start a chapter
- If your application is approved, Unite For Sight will contact you, schedule a phone conversation with you, and work with you to establish a chapter of Unite For Sight
- Recruit volunteers. All volunteers must complete basic orientation and training, including the Unite For Sight's Online Eye Health Course, and sign the Unite For Sight Volunteer Code of Conduct.
- Assign an optometrist or ophthalmologist as the chapter's advisor.
- To obtain permission to establish a chapter and to use Unite For Sight's name, chapters must sign a Chapter Charter and adhere to Unite For Sight's Chapter Coordinator Manual.
- Obtain vision screening chart
- Collaborate with community centers (soup kitchens, clinics, homeless shelters, schools, preschools) so that you can hold vision screenings for the medically underserved.
- Begin eyeglass drive and fundraising events.
All Unite For Sight volunteers are required to complete pre-service training, and only those who have completed the training are Unite For Sight volunteers. Chapters are required to hold two community-based programs per month, have biweekly phone conversations with Unite For Sight staff, and submit monthly updates online about chapter activities.
Unite For Sight chapters are established only after an individual or group first applies to start a chapter, works with Unite For Sight to establish the chapter, and after the officers and advisor sign the chapter charter. The Unite For Sight name, logo and materials are protected by copyright and trademark laws worldwide. The use by unapproved groups of the Unite For Sight name, logo and materials constitutes the infringement of our trademarks and copyrights, which carries the potential for serious legal consequences. Licenses to those important intellectual properties are available only to groups that comply with our organization's legitimate and appropriate requirements.
What are Chapter Requirements?
You may read about the Chapter Details and Requirements online at http://www.uniteforsight.org/start-a-chapter/details-requirements
