The Fred Hollows Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Fred Hollows Foundation is a non-profit aid organization based in Australia
founded in 1992 by eye surgeon Fred Hollows
. The Foundation focuses on treating and preventing blindness
and other vision problems. It operates in Australia, The Pacific, South and South East Asia, and Africa.
and to reducing the cost of eye health care and treatment in developing countries. He had already started project work in Eritrea
, Nepal
, Vietnam
and Indigenous Australia. His work in Vietnam was only in the early stages when he died, but through the commitment that she had made to her late husband, Fred’s widow, Gabi Hollows
, ensured that the work done in countries such as Vietnam (and others) would continue through The Foundation.
The Foundation also works to provide a full range of eye health services including eye health promotion, screening, prevention, curative treatment and rehabilitation.
, Kenya
, Rwanda
, South Africa
and Tanzania
.
, Afghanistan
, Nepal
, Bangladesh
, Pakistan
, Cambodia
, China
, Laos
, North Korea
, and Vietnam
to build comprehensive eye care systems at village, district, provincial and national levels.
community of the Northern Territory
. In the Jawoyn community the work of the foundation does not focus exclusively on eye health, but also includes literacy and nutrition work for the community.
In February 2008, the Foundation committed up to A$3 million to build an eye clinic in Alice Springs, Australia. By April 2010, this clinic had not been built with criticism that the Australian Government were relying on a charity to build the clinic. The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon
, said the foundation was best placed to provide the eye clinic service.
), and is also a signatory to the ACFID code of conduct that "defines standards of governance, management, financial control and reporting with which non government development organisations (NGDOs) should comply."
Australia's overseas aid agency, AusAID, has accredited The Fred Hollows Foundation, and as such The Foundation is eligible to receive funding from the Australian Government for overseas aid programs. According to AusAID "the accreditation process aims to provide AusAID, and the Australian public, with confidence that the Australian Government is funding professional, well managed, community based organisations that are capable of delivering quality development outcomes."
had also lost no money in their investments in New Zealand.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
founded in 1992 by eye surgeon Fred Hollows
Fred Hollows
Frederick "Fred" Cossom Hollows, AC was an ophthalmologist who became known for his work in restoring eyesight for countless thousands of people in Australia and many other countries...
. The Foundation focuses on treating and preventing blindness
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
and other vision problems. It operates in Australia, The Pacific, South and South East Asia, and Africa.
History
The Fred Hollows Foundation was founded on 3 September 1992, by Fred Hollows shortly before he died. Hollows was an eye doctor (ophthalmologist), a skilled surgeon and a social justice activist. Hollows was committed to improving the health of Indigenous AustraliansIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
and to reducing the cost of eye health care and treatment in developing countries. He had already started project work in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Indigenous Australia. His work in Vietnam was only in the early stages when he died, but through the commitment that she had made to her late husband, Fred’s widow, Gabi Hollows
Gabi Hollows
Gabi Hollows is one of Australia's 100 Living Treasures. She was also given the Advance Australia Award for Community Service, and was made Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.-Early life:...
, ensured that the work done in countries such as Vietnam (and others) would continue through The Foundation.
Organisational Goals
The Foundation works to achieve four key goals:- Ending avoidable blindness in the communities and countries where they work.
- Improving the life chances and choices of Indigenous Australians through improving their health.
- Working through strong partnerships and cross-sector collaborations - at local, national and global levels.
- Building a strong and dynamic organisation, capable of facilitating effective eye and Indigenous health programs and having a positive impact on public opinion, policies and practices.
Programs
The Fred Hollows Foundation has blindness prevention programs operating in over 19 countries throughout Africa, South Asia and South East Asia, including countries such as Vietnam and Nepal.The Foundation also works to provide a full range of eye health services including eye health promotion, screening, prevention, curative treatment and rehabilitation.
Africa
In Africa, The Foundation focuses on comprehensive eye health systems with an emphasis on the training of medical staff, screening for poor vision and eye disease, subsidised treatment and provision of equipment and infrastructure in countries such as EritreaEritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
Asia
The Foundation works throughout Asia in countries such as East TimorEast Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
to build comprehensive eye care systems at village, district, provincial and national levels.
Indigenous Australia
The Fred Hollows Foundation works in many Indigenous communities throughout Australia, including the JawoynJawoyn
The Jawoyn people are a group of Indigenous Australians living in the Northern Territory of Australia.Their country is around the Katherine Gorge area, which they have always called Nitmiluk, which means place of cicada dreaming....
community of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. In the Jawoyn community the work of the foundation does not focus exclusively on eye health, but also includes literacy and nutrition work for the community.
In February 2008, the Foundation committed up to A$3 million to build an eye clinic in Alice Springs, Australia. By April 2010, this clinic had not been built with criticism that the Australian Government were relying on a charity to build the clinic. The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon
Warren Snowdon
Warren Edward Snowdon is an Australian politician. He is an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives. He represented the Division of Northern Territory from July 1987 to March 1996, and from October 1998 to November 2001.Since November 2001 he has represented the...
, said the foundation was best placed to provide the eye clinic service.
Accreditation
The Foundation is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFIDACFID
The Australian Council For International Development is an independent national association of Australian non-government organisations working in the field of international aid and development....
), and is also a signatory to the ACFID code of conduct that "defines standards of governance, management, financial control and reporting with which non government development organisations (NGDOs) should comply."
Australia's overseas aid agency, AusAID, has accredited The Fred Hollows Foundation, and as such The Foundation is eligible to receive funding from the Australian Government for overseas aid programs. According to AusAID "the accreditation process aims to provide AusAID, and the Australian public, with confidence that the Australian Government is funding professional, well managed, community based organisations that are capable of delivering quality development outcomes."
Awards and recognitions
- 2005 - Winner of the National Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships in recognition of the successful partnership between The Foundation, Woolworths and the Wugularr community for the Community Stores Program.
- 2009 - Winner of the Gold Star award for non-profit video at the International Fundraising Congress in The Netherlands.
Ambassadors and Supporters
Over the years, The Foundation has been supported by a number of high profile celebrities and athletes including:- Tim Macartney-SnapeTim Macartney-SnapeTim Macartney-Snape is a mountaineer and author. On 3 October 1984 Macartney-Snape and Greg Mortimer were the first Australians to reach the summit of Mount Everest. They reached the summit, climbing without supplementary oxygen, via a new route on the North Face...
- Mount Everest mountaineer and adventurer - Nic CesterNic CesterNicholas John "Nic" Cester is an Australian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, and is the lead vocalist in rock band Jet...
- musician. Cester's band JetJet (band)Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001 while attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne, . The band consists of lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively...
released a video clip in 2008 paying tribute to Hollows. - Aaron DaveyAaron DaveyAaron Davey is a professional Australian rules football player of Indigenous Australian heritage. He currently plays for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
- AFL Player - Adam SpencerAdam SpencerAdam Barrington Spencer is an Australian radio presenter, comedian, and media personality. He first came to fame when he won his round of the comedic talent search Raw Comedy in the mid-1990s...
- TV and Radio Personality - Jessica McNameeJessica McNamee-Career:McNamee is best known for her leading role of Sammy Rafter in the award winning and top rating television series Packed to the Rafters. Before this she also appeared in the television soap opera Home and Away as Lisa Duffy playing the love interest of real life good friend Rhys Wakefield's...
- Actress and TV Personality - Jimmy LittleJimmy LittleJimmy Little AO , is an Australian Aboriginal musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist, whose career has spanned six decades. For many years he was the only Aboriginal star on the Australian music scene...
- Performer - Julie McCrossinJulie McCrossinJulie McCrossin is an Australian radio broadcaster, journalist, comedian and campaigner for women's and gay rights. She is best known for her role as a team captain on the news-based comedy quiz show Good News Week between 1996 and 2000....
- Radio and TV Personality - Linley FrameLinley FrameLinley Frame is a former Olympic swimmer from Australia, who has completed a prominent swimming career for her native country, including a gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke at the 1991 FINA World Championships in Perth as well as a silver in the 200 m breaststroke and the 4 x 100 Medley Relay...
- Olympic Swimmer - Ray MartinRay MartinRay Martin may refer to:*Ray Martin , English association football player*Ray Martin , Australian rules footballer*Ray Martin , United Kingdom...
- TV Personality - Shellie MorrisShellie MorrisShellie Morris is an Australian indigenous singer/songwriter who plays a mix of contemporary folk music and contemporary acoustic ballads. She was raised in Sydney and began singing at an early age...
- Singer/Songwriter - Susie O'Neill - Olympic Gold Medalist
Controversy
In late 2009, it was claimed that in the previous year the Foundation lost more than $2 million with the investment bank Goldman Sachs JBWere. A former member of the organisation's British board, Nick Crane, said the losses were evidence of a new entrepreneurial zeal in the Australian head office, and that the foundation was at risk of losing sight of its true purpose because newer members of the Australian management team had backgrounds in business rather than charity. The Foundation denied these claims, and responded that the $2 million loss was incorrect and that The Foundation had lost $270,000 from investments but had actually gained $350,000 income. However, the value of the Foundation's investments had been written down by $1.6 million by end of 2008. After a letter from Gabi Hollows to the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, the article was corrected. The Fred Hollows Foundation in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
had also lost no money in their investments in New Zealand.