"The goal of iCare Initiative University of Alberta (ICIUA) is to help improve general health education in Edmonton’s inner city elementary schools, with a special emphasis placed on vision care. ICIUA works through 3 different angles: educate, screen, and fundraise.

Every month, we take a team of 12-14 volunteers into a local inner city elementary school. There, we give a very basic presentation on general health concepts (proper diet, nutrition, exercise), with a special emphasis on eye care and vision health. Then we conduct a visual acuity exam on these kids. A letter is sent home indicating the general condition of their child's eyesight; inform the parent/guardian that under Alberta Health, anyone under the age of 18 can receive one free eye exam every year. Furthermore, our goal is to provide children with eye wear at no cost through our fundraising efforts for every child that comes from a low-income family.

This year, we will be hosting our very first Vision Health Symposium! For individuals interested in the Optometry field, we'll be bringing in speakers in different paths of their career and optometry schools!

If you're interested in being a member of this group, volunteering or joining the executive committee, contact ICIUA at the.icare.initiative@gmail.com or 780-983-1122."