About the Project

Project Focus, a joint art-medical program that addresses the problem of preventable blindness in developing countries, was directed by Michael Nedelman and made possible by the generous contributions of Kodak and Yale University. The project—with the help of the nonprofit Unite for Sight—was able to connect with free clinics in South and East India, where volunteers worked with patients in order to document their restored capacity of sight through photography.

After various procedures, the patients, many of whom transitioned from completely blind to near-perfect vision in a matter of days, were able to take photos of things they found beautiful, interesting, or simply everyday. Most of these patients came from poor rural areas in Tamil Nadu and Orissa. They were provided with free medical treatment, which the participants of Project Focus (and Unite for Sight) followed from the pre- to post-operative stages.

Recognition and Awards

Project Focus has been featured worldwide on CNN (”Be the Change”) and Voice of America. In 2007, Michael Nedelman accompanied the exhibit to California, where he was a featured speaker at Stanford University during a conference held by Unite for Sight. There, he received the “2006 Humanitarian Award” for Project Focus. In 2008 at Yale University, he was a featured speaker and panelist on “The Need for a Global Coalition of Good,” with fellow panelists Jeffrey Sachs, Edward O’Neil, and Seth Wayne.

Michael’s original photography was also featured in the Miami Herald, where his own work, “School Camp in Tamil Nadu,” placed second.

Supporters

Project Focus would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Kodak, Unite for Sight, and Yale University. In addition to the teams of volunteers—particularly those in Chennai—who went out of their way to support this program, Project Focus would like to recognize the following individuals:

Michael Nedelman, director (Tamil Nadu)
Nicole Green, associate director (Bhubaneswar)
Jennifer Staple, CEO of Unite for Sight
Dr. Sarang Samal, overseeing doctor (Kalinga Eye Hospital)
Dr. Tamilarasan Senthil, overseeing doctor (Uma Eye Hospital)
Thanraj Aballam, interpreter and Tamil project consultant
Master Janet Henrich, Trumbull College
Lucas O’Connor, special thanks
Nicole Ayache, special thanks