MISSION STATEMENT
To provide eye and vision care services for people in underserved populations who do not have access to local eye care.
To provide eye and vision care services for people in underserved populations who do not have access to local eye care.
SVOSH at SCO is the student chapter of VOSH International (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) located at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.
SVOSH: Past to Present
SVOSH was founded at SCO in 1975 by Donald Holbrook, a second year student. Mr. Holbrook’s father went to Costa Rica and noted that most of the rural natives lacked any kind of medical care. Hearing about the conditions inspired Mr. Holbrook to gather a group of optometry students and doctors to deliver eye care to those needy people.
Within one year, Mr. Holbrook recruited 11 classmates and 3 optometrists, and in 1976, the 14 volunteers comprised the first two SVOSH teams to travel to rural Costa Rica. They examined 3,726 patients in 13 days. Electricity was turned off at 9:00 pm, but they worked past midnight using their hand held instruments to keep seeing patients in the dark.
Within one year, Mr. Holbrook recruited 11 classmates and 3 optometrists, and in 1976, the 14 volunteers comprised the first two SVOSH teams to travel to rural Costa Rica. They examined 3,726 patients in 13 days. Electricity was turned off at 9:00 pm, but they worked past midnight using their hand held instruments to keep seeing patients in the dark.
Over the past 35 years, SVOSH has spread to many other schools and colleges of optometry and has grown to be one of SCO’s largest student organizations. Membership continues to rise each year.
In 2009, SVOSH established the Dr. L. Allen Fors SVOSH Endowed Fund in honor of Allen Fors, OD ’69, Professor, and long time supporter. Dr. Fors served as Faculty Advisor to SVOSH for over 30 years, traveling to 10 different countries with SVOSH and spending countless hours sorting glasses, creating awareness, and preparing students for our trips. This fund establishes an award that will honor his contributions and continue to help offset travel costs for our growing membership.
As of 2015, SVOSH at SCO has completed 150 total trips to 16 countries, examined over 229,000 patients, and distributed over 177,000 pairs of glasses. It has been conservatively estimated that our donated services are worth over 20 million dollars! This could never have been possible without the generous support of Lion's Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs and other organizations that share our passion for service.
In 2009, SVOSH established the Dr. L. Allen Fors SVOSH Endowed Fund in honor of Allen Fors, OD ’69, Professor, and long time supporter. Dr. Fors served as Faculty Advisor to SVOSH for over 30 years, traveling to 10 different countries with SVOSH and spending countless hours sorting glasses, creating awareness, and preparing students for our trips. This fund establishes an award that will honor his contributions and continue to help offset travel costs for our growing membership.
As of 2015, SVOSH at SCO has completed 150 total trips to 16 countries, examined over 229,000 patients, and distributed over 177,000 pairs of glasses. It has been conservatively estimated that our donated services are worth over 20 million dollars! This could never have been possible without the generous support of Lion's Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs and other organizations that share our passion for service.
Our Commitment
SVOSH Members work year-round to ensure that our trips are successful. To prepare for our 4-day mission, students work over 3,500 combined hours during the school year collecting, sorting, and cleaning glasses donated by Lion's Clubs, eye doctors, and other groups from around the United States. In addition, each student must participate in a variety of group fund-raising activities to help supplement the invaluable financial support we receive from our supporters.
Each member completes the following requirements:
1. 30 Volunteer Hours - organized community volunteering and fundraisers
2. 30 Lab Hours – sorting, labeling, & packaging donated glasses to take with us
3. 25 Donation Letters – sent to Lions Clubs to gather donated glasses and funds
4. 2 Presentations – informational presentations about SVOSH done at Lions Clubs
SVOSH Executive Board Members and Chairs work hard behind the scenes to run club activities and plan the trips. While we depend heavily on the support of Lion's Clubs abroad, SVOSH at SCO is an entirely student-run organization. Trip planning, lab work, funds management, and fundraising efforts are all done by student volunteers elected by their fellow SVOSH members.
Each member completes the following requirements:
1. 30 Volunteer Hours - organized community volunteering and fundraisers
2. 30 Lab Hours – sorting, labeling, & packaging donated glasses to take with us
3. 25 Donation Letters – sent to Lions Clubs to gather donated glasses and funds
4. 2 Presentations – informational presentations about SVOSH done at Lions Clubs
SVOSH Executive Board Members and Chairs work hard behind the scenes to run club activities and plan the trips. While we depend heavily on the support of Lion's Clubs abroad, SVOSH at SCO is an entirely student-run organization. Trip planning, lab work, funds management, and fundraising efforts are all done by student volunteers elected by their fellow SVOSH members.
Our International Trips
All members who complete the requirements are eligible to go on a SVOSH trip at the end of the year, and enough trips will be planned in order to give every eligible member a chance to serve. Multiple trips to different locations are taken concurrently during the week after spring semester final exams. Members are divided into teams among the various locations.
The SVOSH Team is made up of 12-14 members with 1-4 doctors. Two members serve as Trip Leaders and will oversee travel and clinic management once abroad. This ensures the doctors are free to focus on overseeing the work and assisting students. Non-student members (generally spouses) help by taking visual acuities, dispensing glasses in the optical, or translating.
The SVOSH Team is made up of 12-14 members with 1-4 doctors. Two members serve as Trip Leaders and will oversee travel and clinic management once abroad. This ensures the doctors are free to focus on overseeing the work and assisting students. Non-student members (generally spouses) help by taking visual acuities, dispensing glasses in the optical, or translating.
While there, the local Lions Clubs of the host countries coordinate the visit, prepare temporary clinics, and arrange housing for the SVOSH team. During a typical day, each SVOSH team works about 8 hours and examines approximately 250 patients per site, per day, for 4 days. The demand for eye care in Central and South America is high, and patients often travel long distances and wait many hours to receive eye care they could not otherwise afford.
Our members work hard, but they also have fun! Following clinic, members have the opportunity of spending an additional 2 days in their country at a local resort. Resorts are optional and paid for by the individual student. This is a great opportunity to wind down, share clinic stories and bond with fellow teammates. Nearly all members choose to take advantage of this opportunity, and it continues to be a favorite tradition unique to SVOSH at SCO.
Our members work hard, but they also have fun! Following clinic, members have the opportunity of spending an additional 2 days in their country at a local resort. Resorts are optional and paid for by the individual student. This is a great opportunity to wind down, share clinic stories and bond with fellow teammates. Nearly all members choose to take advantage of this opportunity, and it continues to be a favorite tradition unique to SVOSH at SCO.
Where We've Been
SVOSH at Southern College of Optometry has provided services in 16 countries outside the US since our founding in 1975.
Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay & Peru!
Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay & Peru!
Southern College of Optometry | VOSH | SCO SVOSH Member Site | Lions Clubs
