Local Filmmaker, Rhonda Kara Hanah, Wins Contest

Film highlights struggle of vision loss
By Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch.com

Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch.com
Rhonda Kara Hanah.

Early last year Rhonda Kara Hanah lost vision in one eye; that vision has since been restored but it made the Thunder Bay woman aware of the struggles for people with vision loss around the world.

Hanah came across the organization Seva Canada that helps restore sight and prevent blindness in the developing world.

"Because I’d experienced vision loss, I offered to be a volunteer to help the organization," said Hanah.

Because of her background in filmmaking, Seva asked Hanah to create a three-minute video on her struggle and the issue of blindness among women throughout the world.

There are 45 million blind people worldwide; two thirds of them are female.

"Females are less likely to get treated," said Hanah. "In many cultures, women don’t have access to same way as we do (to treatment)."

So over a couple of weeks in December, Hanah created her video, which she was unaware would be submitted into the Her Sight is Worth It video contest, which aimed to raise awareness of blindness among women.

Hanah placed third in the competition, an honour that included having the sight restored to one girl and one woman in her name.

"That’s the greatest thing about doing this," she said. "It was all worthwhile."
For $50, someone’s sight can be restored, Hanah added.

"I think ‘Wow, in Canada $50 is a haircut for some people or a meal," she said. "Canadians can help people around the world have their vision restored and it makes a huge difference. I would like people to become aware that for $30, $50 you can cure someone’s eye sight."

Hanah’s video will be screened at the World Community Film Festival in 12 cities and towns across Canada starting in Vancouver Jan 31.

For more information on the Her Sight is Worth It video contest and the film festival visit http://www.seva.ca.