Why India

"We don't have a lack of resources—what we have is a distribution breakdown." —Jimmy Seibert

India is home to over one sixth of the world's population and is set to outpace China by the year 2030. With 25% of its population living at or below India's poverty line of 40 U.S. cents per day, it is also home to the second highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world, second only to all of Sub-Saharan Africa combined.

With many U.S. and European companies having outsourced their telephone technical support to India, one would think that the socio-economic conditions would be much improved. But, as agriculture remains its chief resource, this is simply not the case. In fact, while 70% of India's population resides in rural areas, 90% of its health care providers are available only in the urban areas.

Along with the caste system, a cultural class system that has been outlawed in India since 1950, this has resulted in a huge discrepancy between the wealthy city dwellers and the poor agricultural workers, with 80% of its population living on less than $2 U.S. per day, in India, there is no middle class.

"For many of the people we serve, it isn't just their first time seeing an eye doctor," said John Stevens, "It's their first time seeing a doctor, period." Stevens first went to India with Dr. Lech and a team of six in 2006 to provide medical care.

"I was utterly shocked that such a place even existed in the world," added Stevens of his initial reaction to the need.

But there is hope.

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