This is Katherine Massam, an IRIS Mundial volunteer who has been working “behind the scenes” for over 5 years! Aside from the volunteers on missions, a lot of background work is necessary to keep an organization alive: management of equipment and eyeglasses, funding, volunteer human resources, communications, etc. IRIS Mundial also wants to reach its English-speaking collaborators and partners by having impeccable publications in their language. We were first put in touch with Katherine by a long-time volunteer, to help with our communication needs. Katherine works on the English language quality of the majority of IRIS Mundial publications and official documents. She is a flexible person who fulfills her commitments seriously and professionally. She is a very valuable asset to our organization. Thank you, Katherine!
Here is what she told us regarding her involvement:
“I became involved as a volunteer because my friend André Racine asked me if I could help out with an English text. It started as a one-off assignment, but since then I have continued to read over and correct English texts for IRIS Mundial. The objective is to make the texts easier to read for English speakers, so they don’t have to make an effort or read a sentence twice to understand its meaning. IRIS Mundial is very good at communication. I think the organizers understand that this is the key to the motivation and recruitment of volunteers and donors. For this reason, written texts must be immediately accessible, and the emotional stories as well as the practical information must not be bogged down with heavy sentences.
By working on these texts, I have learned so much! I have read stories that touch me deeply. IRIS Mundial’s work radically changes the lives of individuals and communities. A person whose eyesight is damaged suffers terribly in so many ways. There are sometimes simple medical solutions, but making them available takes colossal organizational efforts. IRIS Mundial is a great example of how one person can change the world: It always starts with the inspiration of one person, but these days IRIS Mundial is made up of a whole team of professionals, administrators and volunteers who make it all happen.
Our world is deeply unfair. IRIS Mundial has found ways to get around this unfairness, working with partners to directly reach people in need of care and eyeglasses. The need to see the world is so basic, and we take the services we have here for granted. I feel privileged to have learned more about the reality of the people and communities who receive IRIS Mundial services and about the organizational work that makes this possible.
Congratulations IRIS Mundial! To have built this organizational structure and motivated a whole network of professionals and volunteers, year after year is awe inspiring. You always put the people in need at the heart of everything you do: giving them the chance to fulfill their potential, to meet the needs of their family, to earn money and participate in community life.”
