Schanzer Eye Institute — Sierra Leone Mission Update
20 Years of Sight —
A Celebration in Sierra Leone
Schanzer Eye Clinic — Serabu, Sierra Leone — June 2026
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The 20-Year Anniversary Celebration
The 20-Year Anniversary celebration was held on Saturday, June 20. Numerous dignitaries from Sierra Leone made their way to Serabu to join the festivities. Members of the management team delivered presentations on the history and accomplishments of Southern Eye Clinic, and the keynote address was given by the Resident Minister of the Southern Province.
Food, music, and dancing filled the grounds as the community came together in joy and gratitude. Everyone had a grand time celebrating two decades of restored sight and faithful service.
The Bumpe Cup Final
The Bumpe Cup final was a hard-fought match between the village of Sahn and the village of Walihun. The contest went down to the last sudden-death kick, with Walihun winning 3–2 in a thrilling finish. The post-game celebration lasted well into the night.
A New Name — Schanzer Eye Clinic
Sunday morning Mass included a special blessing for the staff of Southern Eye Clinic. Later that afternoon, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Charles Senessie, spoke to an enthusiastic audience about the invaluable work of the clinic to the people of Sierra Leone — and then joined Tom to make the historic announcement: the clinic would henceforth be known as Schanzer Eye Clinic.
Dr. Senessie was particularly impressed by the technology tour of the facility, a testament to the clinic’s commitment to bringing world-class ophthalmological care to rural Sierra Leone.
It was a very successful and joyful week of celebration — and all of it gave special honor to Dr. Cathy Schanzer, whose vision and dedication made these twenty years possible.
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Serving the Community
Patients from across the Southern Province continue to travel great distances — many by foot or motorbike — to reach outreach clinics supported by Schanzer Eye Clinic. The dedication of the field team in transporting patients to care reflects the same spirit of service that has defined this mission for two decades.
About the Schanzer Eye Institute
The Schanzer Eye Institute has supported eye care missions in Serabu, Sierra Leone for twenty years. What began as Southern Eye Clinic has now been officially renamed Schanzer Eye Clinic in recognition of the foundational role of Dr. Cathy Schanzer in building this work.
To learn more or support the mission, contact the Schanzer Eye Institute in Memphis, Tennessee.