My Experiences as a Global Impact Fellow in India
By Matthew Jackson
University of Buffalo Student
Summer 2010 (May 10-June 30) Global Impact Fellow
Since I was a child, I have sought to dedicate my life to helping others and giving those who are less fortunate the same opportunities that I have been given. I believe that knowledge is power, and that it is our duty as global citizens to allocate that power to the benefit of society. Traveling has the potential to be one of the most eye-opening experiences in one’s life. It is an opportunity to view the world through the eyes of another, and to assist in the path of self-discovery. Travel helps to us to determine who we are as individuals and what our position is in the world. The rewards of travel are immeasurable because it requires us to tune into the enormous strength that resonates within us, and it allows us and those around us to participate in a mutual unearthing of culture. When we travel, we are at our most vulnerable because we are no longer surrounded by familiarity, however, this gives us the freedom to grow and to further develop our understanding of the unknown.
When I first found out I was going to India with Unite For Sight, I did not know what to expect. The visions I had of India was a land filled with intense heat, pollution, chaos, and filth, and when I look back at my time in India, I can definitely say that all my expectations were met, but I can also say that India surprised me. India is the land of contrasts; it is where ancient temples meet modern skyscrapers, a rich, antique culture that is nothing short of spectacular. My move to India not only allowed me to see a completely different side of the world, but I was also able to establish unbreakable bonds with so many interesting and amazing people. As French scholar Romain Rollard once said, “If there is one place on the face of the earth where all dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.”
Unite For Sight has transformed the developing world by giving hope to communities who for years have no access to basic medical care. Unite For Sight is a more than just a group of dedicated individuals, it is a movement that will forever alter the lives of thousands of people who are denied the fundamental right to health care. I look forward to educating my peers about this wonderful opportunity because this is a chance to educate the future of our society on the flawed global public health system, and to assist in developing a process in which it can progress in a positive direction. As a pre-medical student, Unite For Sight is a unique opportunity that will allow you to tap into that passion for medicine, acquire new skills, develop close relationships with patients, and make contacts with some of the world’s most inspiring medical professionals. This is a remarkable organization that goes beyond conventional philanthropy by dramatically improving the physical and social environment around the developing world. I consider it both an honor and privilege to have been a volunteer for Unite For Sight. Not only was I immersed in an extraordinary educational experience, but I also had the opportunity to assist in giving individuals the gift of sight. We live in a beautiful, multi-cultural world, and the ability to experience it through vision is one of the greatest gifts we can give.