Following deferment for the last three years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th Annual Taveuni Eye Project will proceed during the two weeks commencing Monday, 12th June 2023.
The Rotary Club of Taveuni Island (with which the Rotary Club of Boronia has a Sister Club arrangment) has been running the Taveuni Eye Project since 2005. The aim of the project is to give sight to children and adults from remote rural areas of Fiji, thereby changing the lives of hundreds of the poorest Fijians each year. A total of 3,700 eyes have been corrected following completion of the most recent project in 2019.
This vital Rotary sponsored eye project is undertaken entirely by volunteers, including specialist doctors and nurses who travel from New Zealand, Australia (Melbourne and Tasmania), USA, Argentina and the Fijian Islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, who are backed up by local and international volunteer workers, all at no cost to the patients. Training of local medical staff is a key component of the project.
The Rotary Club of Boronia has been an active supporter of the Taveuni Eye Project since 2015, principally through the efforts of Past President Peter Malden and wife Jan who will again be travelling to Fiji. For each project (normally conducted annually), Peter has been heavily involved in project managment and logistical support, fundraising and arranging the provision of materials and equipment.
For further insight to this highly regarded program, watch the following short videos:
- explaining the Taveuni Eye Project from a patients’ perspective and a child’s perspective;
- of a very happy Mary and another very happy patient as they have their first eyes uncovered at the Post Operation Review (Reveal) the day after their surgery;
- of a message from Mary and another grateful recipient; and
- of the Doctor revealing a very good result.
If you would like to support this very worthy cause, you can donate here.
2019 Medical Team
May 2023
