Uniting Community Spirit with a Global Vision for Eye Health
The White Rock Sea Festival is more than a celebration of culture and community. It is an extension of a powerful mission to prevent avoidable blindness and support the visually impaired across the world. As a dedicated branch of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), we bring people together through shared experiences and meaningful impact.
Founded in 1975, IAPB is a global non-governmental organization that works in partnership with the World Health Organization to prevent and treat vision-related diseases. Through the White Rock Sea Festival, we connect this international mission to local action — raising awareness, mobilizing resources, and driving change in both developed and underserved regions.
Why Vision Matters
Vision loss remains a silent crisis in many parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization:
- 253 million people are affected by visual impairment
- 36 million are blind
- 90 percent of all cases are in developing countries
- Over 80 percent of visual impairment is treatable or preventable
In Canada alone, it is estimated that over 1.6 million people live with visual impairments or blindness. These numbers are not just statistics — they represent real lives, families, and communities impacted by limited access to eye care.
Our Mission
We are committed to preventing avoidable blindness and enhancing the lives of those with visual impairments through education, early intervention, and access to rehabilitative services. We focus on both national and global initiatives, addressing the urgent need for vision care in vulnerable populations.
Our work is guided by a central mission: to create a world where preventable blindness is eliminated, and every individual has access to the eye care they need to thrive.
What We Do
Education and Awareness
We design and implement public education programs to inform individuals and communities about preventable eye diseases. Through outreach campaigns, school programs, and informational materials, we help people understand how early detection can save their sight.
Prevention and Early Detection
We support and run secondary prevention campaigns aimed at identifying eye diseases in their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective. Mobile eye units and vision screenings make this care accessible to all.
Visual Rehabilitation
In partnership with WHO, we have established national centers for visual rehabilitation, such as the one at Policlinico A. Gemelli — a WHO Collaborating Centre. These centers offer specialized support for people living with visual impairment, helping them regain independence and quality of life.
Community and International Outreach
We engage with underserved communities around the world, providing interventions, mobile clinics, and direct support in collaboration with local partners. From remote regions to refugee camps, our programs bring sight-saving care where it is needed most.
How We Operate
Our work is coordinated through a strong organizational structure that includes:
- A National Directorate
- A National Scientific Committee
- A Board of Auditors
- Regional and Provincial Committees to support local implementation
We also participate in the National Technical Committee for the Prevention of Blindness, established by the Ministry of Health in 2017.
Key Initiatives
Here are some of the ways we deliver impact:
- Organizing seminars and medical conferences
- Publishing Oftalmologia Sociale, a journal focused on public eye health
- Providing toll-free ophthalmology consultations through our Green Line
- Operating an online forum where users can receive responses from certified ophthalmologists
- Collaborating with hospitals, universities, ministries, and research institutions
- Training educators and visual rehabilitation specialists
- Developing rehabilitation centers and expanding services
- Supporting global efforts in eye care and prevention, especially in disadvantaged countries
Join Us in the Fight Against Preventable Blindness
The White Rock Sea Festival is a celebration with purpose. As we gather to enjoy music, culture, and community, we also raise awareness and resources for a cause that affects millions. Every contribution helps us get one step closer to a world where no one suffers from avoidable blindness.
Whether you are a donor, partner, volunteer, or attendee, your participation supports life-changing work in vision care.
Together, we can see a brighter future.