Program Information
About Unite for Sight
Unite for Sight, a nonprofit organization founded by Yale alumna, Jennifer Staple '03, is dedicated to empowering communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness. Currently, the organization places volunteers in Ghana and India and has established chapters worldwide. Please visit www.uniteforsight.org for additional information about the organization.
Requirements
- Period of Internship
A minimum participation of eight weeks is required. In Tamale, Ghana students may select the seven-week program.
- Eligibility
Positions are open to current Yale College students not in their final year of study, and regardless of nationality. Unite for Sight accepts volunteers in their senior year, but those volunteers will not be funded by Yale.
All volunteers raise at least $1,375 for Unite for Sight's international eye care programs. Unite For Sight volunteers have been very successful raising funds by asking family and friends, holding bakesales, running marathons, creating fundraising websites, and even bungee jumping! To help with fundraising efforts, Unite for Sight creates a personal donation fundraising page for all of its volunteers. (Please see Example 1 and Example 2)
Internship Opportunities
Interns will work along side eye doctors to provide vision screening, vision education programs, eyeglass distribution, and cataract surgery programs in schools and within the communities. Please visit the program sites below for specific program details.
Select the following program site links to learn more about these locations.
Be sure to note the program choice (s) on your application. If you have more than one selection, please rank your choices.
Africa
- Accra, Ghana Unite for Sight
A minimum participation of 8 weeks is required. In Tamale and Ghana students may select the seven-week program; volunteers must select more than one session:
- May 20-30
- June 1-10
- June 1-15
- June 10-20
- June 20-30
- June 1-30
- July 1-10
- July 1-15
- July 10-20
- July 20-31
- July 1-31
- August 1-10
- August 1-15
- August 10-20
- August 20-30
- August 1-30
- August 1-30
- Asikuma, Ghana Unite for Sight
A minimum participation of 8 weeks is required; volunteers must select more than one session:
- June 1-30
- June 1-30
- August 1-20
- Tamale, Ghana Unite for Sight
Students may select the seven-week program; volunteers must select more than one session:
- May 23 - July 1
- July 1 - August 18
- July 27 - August 20
Asia
- Chennai, India Unite for Sight
A minimum participation of 8 weeks is required; volunteers must select more than one session:
- May 20-30
- June 1-10
- June 1-15
- June 10-20
- June 20-30
- June 1-30
- July 1-10
- July 1-15
- July 10-20
- July 20-31
- July 1-31
- August 1-10
- August 1-15
- August 10-20
- August 20-30
- August 1-30
- Dhenkanal, Orissa, India Unite for Sight
A minimum participation of 8 weeks is required; volunteers must select more than one session:
- May 15-30
- June 1-15
- June 15-30
- July 1-15
- July 15-30
- August 1-15
- August 15-25
Finances
- Budget Projections
You may view a budget breakdown for each area. Total Budge Projections are as follows:
- Ghana
Accra: $4,059
Asikuma: $3,737
Tamale: $3,695
- India
Chennai: $3,587
Dhenkanal, Orissa: $2,025
- Housing, Transportation, and Meals
Housing arrangements are made by the Unite for Sight organization and may vary depending on the country/location. Detailed information is indicated within the specific locale website.
- Expenses and Salary/Funding Information
Participants are responsible for all costs incurred associated with the program (housing, meals, local transportation, incidentals, transportation to/from host country, medical insurance, work permit/visa). Students receiving financial assistance from the University will be eligible to apply for the ISA grant to help defer costs. If requirements are met, a grant will also be provided to satisfy the expected student income contribution (SIC). Information about the ISA can be found at www.yale.edu/isa. Applicants should plan to meet with Carolyn Falls in the Student Financial Services Center to assess eligibility for the ISA and the percentage level of funding prior to applying.
Health and Safety
All students must provide proof of health insurance and coverage while abroad. The University provides travel assistance through MEDEX. The MEDEX program does not provide health insurance but offers international assistance in a number of areas including travel assistance, political and security evacuation, medical evacuation and repatriation, personal assistance. For further information, visit Yale's Travel Assistance Program website to learn more about MEDEX. Two well known carriers that provide extended health coverage include International SOS and Wallach and Company. In addition, quotes and comparisons on insurance can be found at InsureMyTrip.com.
The University does not endorse any outside carriers. These links are provided for information purposes only. Each participant is responsible for ensuring that desired coverage is in place prior to departure. Health insurance coverage varies greatly and it is safe to say that no assumption should be made about what will and will not be covered.
Students should not take safety issues for granted. Be sure to make arrangements to register upon arrival with the U.S. consulate or embassy having jurisdiction over your host country. Plan to attend orientation programs which will provide region-specific information regarding health and safety issues. When traveling, always make certain the program, internship sponsor, roommates, UCS and family back home in the U.S know where you are going and when you are expected to return. Provide program and family members (including roommates) with itinerary as well as emergency contact information. You should carry your contact information and email addresses with you at all times and a copy of your passport. The US State Department Travel and Living Abroad site http://www.state.gov/travel is a valuable resource for information. In addition, the Office of International Education and Fellowship Programs web site has an information section on Health and Safety while abroad.
Application Information
Please visit the program sites for specific program details. Be sure to note the program choice (s) on your application. If you have more than one selection, please rank your choices.
The instructions are involved; do not wait until the last minute to begin your preparation.
- Application Instructions
Applicants will complete a form on-line to apply directly to Unite for Sight.
Students are required to submit a resume as an attachment to the application. In addition, two letters of reference are required which should be emailed directly by the recommender to JStaple@uniteforsight.org using Unite For Sight's Online Recommendation Form.
As referenced in the Declaration, students are responsible for obtaining illness/health insurance coverage however, Yale University provides for all students MedEX coverage which offers international assistance in a number of areas including travel assistance, political and security evacuation, medical evacuation and repatriation, personal assistance.
- Pre-departure Requirements
- Contact PRVAIL or an eye doctor office to request 300-500 eyeglasses that you will bring for donation to the partner eye clinic in the destination country.
- All volunteers raise at least $1,375 for Unite for Sight's international eye care programs, except fully licensed and practicing optometrists and ophthalmologists, who fund raise at least $100 for the eye care programs. Our volunteers have been very successful raising funds by asking family and friends, holding bakesales, running marathons, creating fundraising websites, and even bungee jumping! To help with fundraising efforts, Unite for Sight creates a personal donation fundraising page for all of its volunteers (Please see Example 1 and Example 2). Volunteers are usually able to fundraise the full amount within 1 month.
The fundraising efforts of Unite For Sight's volunteers provide poor patients worldwide with free eye care and sight-restoring surgeries. Each cataract surgery costs $50 on average, so every dollar that you fundraise makes a tremendous impact on the lives of children and adults. Additionally, your fundraising efforts help to create public awareness about global eye care needs. Your pre-departure fundraising therefore allows you to make a huge impact before you even arrive in the developing country.
- Volunteers must be trained by an eye doctor in their local community to screen for cataracts, recognize various eye diseases, and learn about eye anatomy, and eye health. The training session must include 2-3 days working with an ophthalmologist
in New Haven (physician contact information provided by Unite For Sight organization). Volunteers also view a Unite for Sight Training Video, complete the Unite For Sight Online Eye Health Course, and read several journal articles to prepare them for the experience.
- Yale provides for all students, security and travel assistance insurance through MedEx, confirm health insurance coverage abroad, get vaccinations and a physical exam, and make arrangements to purchase a passport (if you do not already have one) and secure a visa.
- Selection Process
Applications are submitted directly to the sponsor. However, UCS also reserves
the right to review all submissions. Selections will be completed within 3 days of receipt of the completed application,, but please be aware, in some cases the review period may take longer so we ask for your patience with the process.
The internship offer will be extended through UCS. Once a student is offered an internship, he/she will have no more than 72 hours to make a decision. Our hope is that you have thoroughly researched this opportunity as an option for the summer and that by doing so; you will be prepared to make a decision when you are selected. Please note that not all opportunities you apply to will provide a decision at the same time so your decision may have to be made independently of other opportunities pending.
Program Expectations
Participants should plan to work full time, or as required by the local Unite for Sight partner eye clinic for the entire length of the internship.
Applicants should be resourceful, flexible, motivated, and responsible persons. You must be comfortable in an unfamiliar setting, open and accepting of new experiences and culture other than your own. Participants need to take their commitment seriously and be comfortable with the responsibilities attendant with your role as a "Yale ambassador."
Upon returning to campus, interns may be asked to assist in publicizing the program at panels, workshops that UCS hosts or participates in. Though this is on a voluntary basis, our expectation is that you will be involved.
Questions?
Send your inquiries to abroad.ucs@yale.edu. Program specific questions may be sent to jstaple@uniteforsight.org. Be sure to note in the Subject line of your e-mail "Yale UCS/Unite for Sight ".
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