Mission statement
Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) is an international agency whose mandate is to facilitate the provision and sustainability of vision care worldwide to people who can neither afford nor obtain such care. VOSH Waterloo is a chapter of VOSH International, a not-for-profit organization that has been in operation since 1971. Dedicated volunteers provide optometric care in the form of ocular health checks and eyewear in developing countries. Each clinic lasts between seven and 10 days, and 400-700 patients are typically seen per day. Each year, Waterloo Optometry students and practicing optometrists collaborate with other North American VOSH chapters to embark on mission trips around the world.
Current sVOSH Waterloo executive
- President: Owen Alstad
- Vice Presidents: Catherine Huynh and Abarnaa Arithas
- Vice President Finance: Shreya Jain
Second Year Representatives
- Curtis D'Souza
- Elisa Haley
- Sahana Gopalakrishnan
- Jessie Byers
First Year Representatives
- Keeirah Raguram
- Hazell Kim
- Patricia Magallanes
- Prithika Piratheepan
Upcoming Projects 2026
- Senegal
- Philippines
- Malawi
Past projects
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Senegal (2018-2026+)
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Philipines (2019 - 2026)
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Malawi (2024, 2025, 2026)
- Jamaica (2019)
- Manitoulin Island (2019)
- Ukraine (2019)
- Haiti (2017 & 2019)
- Peru (2015 & 2016 & 2017)
- Ecuador (2016 & 2017)
- Moldova (2016 & 2017)
- Romania (2015)
Other: Morocco, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Cameroon, Mexico, Belize