WORLD SIGHT DAY 2013
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
World Sight Day this year is on 10 October 2013 (10/10/2013). In keeping with this
year’s call to action, we include a number of suggestions below to help you plan your
WSD Activity/Event. We are sure you have more ideas – do share them with us on
communications@iapb.org and we will include them on our website and social media
pages.
LAUNCH THE WORLD SIGHT DAY REPORT
World Sight Day will see the launch of a new report, ‘Towards Universal Eye Health’
– in all 7 IAPB regions. The report, with case studies from several countries across
the world, looks at the uptake of universal eye health and comes up with suggestions
for integrating eye care at every level of health care. Organisations can also ‘launch’
the report as part of their WSD event, by inviting local government functionaries or
other key stakeholders in eye health.
BLINDFOLD IMPORTANT STATUES
Blindfolding important statues in your area can be a great media opportunity! By
blindfolding an important statue, you can draw attention to the issue of avoidable
blindness and visual impairment, including the many solutions that you help
implement.
You could also invite celebrities or government functionaries to blindfold themselves
and (temporarily) experience blindness – always a great media moment!
WALKS AND RALLIES
World Sight Day is also a great time organise walks and public rallies. The WSD
promotional material this year also includes designs for balloons – a very colourful
way to make your presence felt. The promotional pack sent out this year also
includes a few sample balloons for you to use.
EYE EXAMINATIONS
WSD is a great day for awareness raising and informing potential customers and
donors of the causes of avoidable blindness and means of eradicating them. If the
focus is Cataract, glaucoma, refractive errors or diabetic retinopathy, it all begins
with an eye exam. This year, for the week leading up to World Sight Day organise a
chain – ask every customer who walks in for an eye exam to bring in two more
customers. Inform them of the need to get one’s eyes tested.
WORLD SIGHT DAY CHALLENGE
Optometry Giving Sight is urging all members of the optical community and anyone
who values good vision to take part in the World Sight Day Challenge for the month
of October. The World Sight Day Challenge is the largest annual global fundraising
campaign to address avoidable blindness caused by uncorrected refractive error.
Participating is easy – simply make a monthly or annual donation during October!
Learn more on their website: http://www.givingsight.org/get-involved/world-sight-daychallenge.html
OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR WORLD SIGHT DAY ACTIVITIES:
 Why not hold a Gala Event? Either organised by your organisation or follow the
IAPB theme and join forces with other like-minded organisations and organise an
extravaganza!
 Encourage your Minister of Health & local celebrities to sign a Declaration of
Support
 Distributing Vitamin A to children in your area makes for great photo opportunities
for media
 Set up an eye screening centre and encourage people to get their eyes tested for
World Sight Day
 Take up the challenge to perform the most eye surgeries around the world in
celebration of WSD
 Raise awareness of the issues of avoidable blindness and WSD through public
education in schools, during sponsored activities, including readathons and
competitions etc
 Gain pro-bono advertising to raise awareness
 Produce a poster to be used alongside the official IAPB WSD Poster which can
be used at events, in retail outlets and other locations
 Hold a musical concert in the dark or other black out events – e.g.
dinner/theatre/light projection of WSD logo on buildings etc
 Live internet link-ups to events/operations/screenings etc and share your WSD
celebration with others around the world
If all stakeholders commit to making the effort in planning and working together on
the suggested activities for World Sight Day, events will take place in even more
countries than last year. It does not matter how small an event you organise, the
important thing is to take part and raise awareness of avoidable blindness.
Below are some simple ‘event production’ guidelines to aid all member organisations
in running events:
1. Start planning events and activities NOW. Brainstorm ideas and communicate
with all your regional and country offices to get as many things happening as
possible.
2. Ensure that any ‘Minister of Health Events’ are run in conjunction with the
government supporting a solid eye health programme plan.
3. Presentation material is available for speakers on Microsoft Powerpoint slide
programmes; Video footage is available on IAPB’s Youtube channel.
4. If you are planning to have media attend the event – ensure you have press
packs available for them (see the basic WSD Press Pack Material list).
5. Make sure you capture your event on camera!
Need more ideas? Do go through the WSD12 Activities report for what was done last
year.
Do send us feedback and a report of your event to communications@iapb.org