On September 1, 2016, Dr. Victor Setiawan Tandean and Dr. Teguh Filbert Metapura became Working Vision's first donors from a country outside the USA and Canada. They are both ophthalmologists from Indonesia who visited Nepal to learn and exchange knowledge about cataract surgery. Dr. Tandean and Dr. Metapura purchased paintings that were donated by artists from the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, the site of Working Vision's latest outreach workshop. By purchasing these paintings, Dr. Tandean and Dr. Metapura are helping to fund additional Working Vision outreach in Nepal and India. Hopefully, we will have workshops in Indonesia in the near future!
Nepal Academy of Fine Arts
On August 13, 2016, Dr. Ben and the Kathmandu team held a workshop at the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts. The workshop participants were primarily students and artists who are exposed to stone fragments and other foreign bodies during their work. Some of the artists were so inspired by Working Vision that they donated their own artwork to help fund more workshops! We love art, and we can't thank these generous artists enough for their support.
Gachia Workers Group
Dr. Ben and the Kathmandu team held a workshop for the Gachia Workers Group in the Morang district of eastern Nepal on July 23, 2016. The 155 participants in the workshop included construction workers, metal workers, and stone artisans. This was Working Vision's first workshop in about a year, and it was a great success thanks to Dr. Ben and his team!
Safety Glasses Shipment
Today, we shipped another 500 pairs of safety glasses and safety goggles to Nepal. Dr. Limbu and his team already have several workshops planned, so the eyewear will be helping protect eyes very soon! This shipment wouldn't have been possible without the donations of our longest running donor, Brebeuf Jesuit High School, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Thanks to the leadership of science teacher extraordinaire, Dr. Sherry Anne, Brebeuf Jesuit students have donated over 400 pairs of safety glasses since 2010.
Pasupati Ply Industry. Dhalkebar, Dhanusa
In co -ordination with Bardibas Eye Hospital, Working Vision held a 75-participant workshop at the Pasupati Ply Industry. We distributed 61 safety glasses, free eye screening program and awareness education. We found 6 bilateral cataracts and our partners at Bardibas eye hospital have agreed to provide surgery for these patients at a nominal cost. The turnout was so large for this workshop that we have booked another 75 workers for an additional workshop in the near future.
The Pasupati Ply management team was genuinely impressed and appreciative of our efforts to prevent the ocular trauma for their team members.
Bhaktapur Construction Workers Revisited
Dr. Ben and the team in Kathmandu held an additional workshop for construction workers in Bhaktapur on May 24, 2014. Thirty-eight brick and stone workers took part in the workshop, and they each received a pair of safety glasses and an eye exam.
Bardibas Eye Centre
Dr. Ben and the Kathmandu team held a workshop at the Bardibas Eye Centre on May 4, 2014. The 25 participants worked in the stone and gravel industry. Safety glasses, eye screening exams, and medication were provided. Unfortunately, we don't have photos of the workshop itself, but this photo of the road from Kathmandu to Bardibas looks like it was quite an adventure to travel on.
Welfare Academy of Thimi-Bhaktapur
On November 30, 2013, Dr. Limbu and the Kathmandu team held a workshop in Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is a neighborhood in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. This workshop provided safety glasses, education, eye screening exams, and medication for 30 participants, who work mainly as welders, metal workers, and stone workers.
Birpara, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India
On November 29, 2013, Dr. Dipanjal Dey, and his team from Northern India held we have organized a workshop at Birpara, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India. The workshop took place in a stone processing center that had very poor working conditions. Dr. Dey noted that "a worker could lose his eye at anytime" working at this jobsite. Fifty-four workers took part in the workshop, and they all received safety glasses and an eye screening exam. This is Working Vision's second workshop in India.
Pokhara Industrial Estate
On April 24, 2013, Dr. Ben and a local team from Himalayan Eye Hospital held Working Vision’s largest workshop of the year. Work-safety education and eye exams were provided for 255 workers! The team distributed 92 pairs of safety glasses (the glasses will be shared) and 260 pairs of ear plugs. The workers attending this workshop were employed at local chemical and furniture factories, in addition to metal processing centers. Several workers courageously shared their experiences with work-related eye injuries, and this lent new importance to our work.
The program was coordinated locally with the help of Pokhara Industrial Estate, and we send special thanks to BhojRam Bindari, Chairman of the Industrial Estate, for his help organizing.
Bardiabas Eye Care Center
On April 15, 2013, Dr. Ben and the staff at Bardiabas Eye Care Center held a local workshop for metal workers and furniture artisans. Bardiabas is a smaller city southeast of Kathmandu. One participant, shown here with a patched eye, even showed up to the workshop with a work-related eye injury! With a little help from Dr. Ben, a small piece of metal was removed from the man’s eye. This worker then helped to explain the importance of safety eyewear to the rest of the group. We couldn’t have asked for a better spokesperson for the day!
With Bardiabas on board, Working Vision is now serving 4 different cities in Nepal, also including Kathmandu, Hetauda, and Pokhara.
Alipurduar, India
After months of careful preparation, Working Vision held its first workshop in India! The workshop was held on March 21, 2013 in Alipurduar, India, a small town in the far northwestern portion of the country between Bhutan and Bangladesh. Seventy-eight workers, mainly farmers and stone workers, took part in the workshop.
The workshop was led by Dr. Dipanjal Dey and Dr. Ben Limbu, who travelled to India for the occasion. Dr. Dey is a Cornea Specialist at Alipurduar Lions Eye Hospital. Dr. Dey and Dr. Limbu became friends while serving as International Fellows at the University of Utah’s Moran Eye Center, and we are happy to have Dr. Dey on the Working Vision team!
This workshop marks a major milestone for Working Vision, as it is our first in India. We would like to extend special thanks to Alipurduar Lions Eye Hospital, Mr. Subash, the president of Alipurduar Lions Eye Hospital, and The Lions Club of Barobisha. As usual, special thanks to our donors who have now helped us prevent blindness in 2 countries! We plan to hold more workshops in India soon
Natural Flowers and Herbal Ltd
On February 7, 2013, Dr. Sanjita Sharma, Tulasi Prasad Chudal, and other team members from Hetauda Community Eye Hospital held a workshop at Natural Flowers and Herbal Ltd, in Basamadi, Nepal. Natural Flowers and Herbal is a local manufacturer of vitamins and herbal supplements. In this workshop, 28 participants received eye screening exam and safety eyewear. Nothing like having another successful workshop in the books!
Churiyamai Khukuri Artisans
Today, Dr. Sanjita Sharma, Tulasi Prasad Chudal, and other members of Working Vision’s team in Hetauda, Nepal held a small but very meaningful workshop. This workshop was provided for thirteen artisans who hand manufacture “Khukri,” which are a special type of Nepalese knife. These artisans have significant risk for eye injury from metal shavings, and one participant in this workshop (pictured here) had already lost his eye due to previous work-related trauma. We feel great that our safety glasses will help keep his other eye safe. Click on the image for the un-cropped version.
Thana Bharyang Industrial Complex
The Hetauda Team, led by Dr. Sanjita Sharma and Tulasi Prasad Chudal, held their first workshop of the new year at Thana Bharyang Industrial Complex. This workshop served primarily independent contractors employed as plumbers, rikshaw drivers, metal workers, and farmers. All fifty participants received work-place safety education, safety glasses, and eye exams. Eyewear distributed at this workshop had UV protection (ie sunglasses) in addition to being impact resistant.
Bhaktapur Construction Workers
The Kathmandu team, led by Dr. Ben Limbu, held Working Vision’s first workshop of 2013 in Bhaktapur, Nepal. One-hundred and thirty five (135) construction workers participated in the workshop, which was held in the lecture room of a local nursing school. At one point during the workshop, power went out, but nursing school staff saved the day by turning on their generator! Special thanks to the Bhaktapur Nursing School for allowing us to use their lecture room and generator. All of the workers who participated in this workshop make around $3 USD per day, and thus taking a day off to visit the doctor means less food for themselves and their families. Working Vision breaks down this barrier to care by providing healthcare at work.
Nepal Ekrat Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
On November 3, the Hetauda Team, led by Dr. Ben Limbu, provided a safety eyewear workshop and provided basic eye exams for 41 workers at Nepal Ekrat Engineering. As a company that values safety, Nepal Ekrat Engineering was a great place for Working Vision to hold a workshop.
Nepal Cylinders LTD
Under the leadership of Dr. Ben Limbu, Working Vision began protective eyewear distribution in Hetauda, Nepal. As a major industrial area in Nepal, Hetauda is home to over 50 factories. Dr. Limbu’s first protective eyewear distribution workshop took place at Nepal Cylinders Ltd, a gas-tank manufacturing facility. 30 pairs of protective eyewear were distributed, and the program was also chronicled in the local newspaper!
Patan Figurine Artisans
On September 1st, Working Vision’s Kathmandu team, led by Dr. Rohit Saiju, held a workshop for 150 figurine artisans. These skilled workers are famous for their craftsmanship and the statues they create of buddhist and hindu deities. Dr. Saiju and the team provided lectures on how to practice proper vision safety at work and distributed safety eyewear afterward. Click the date to see photos.
Shree Hanuman and MT Brick Factories
This April, Working Vision’s Kathmandu team visited Shree Hanuman Brick Factory, about 30km from Kathmandu. Workers at the brick factory manually collect mud and then shape it into bricks. The bricks are then buried underground and heated. At the brick factory, there are many potential sources of trauma, including brick chips and other foreign bodies. Dr. Ben’s photos of the workers in action really convey this well. At this workshop, many children were also present. Without the ability to pay for daycare, school, or home supervision, parents working at Bhaktapur Brick Factory brought their children to work. One-hundred and forty-seven (147) workers participated in these workshops where they received free eye exams, protective eyewear, and education on workplace safety. Click the date to see photos.