VOA慢速英语2015 美国的斯里兰卡人回国效劳

Sri Lankan-American Gives Back to Home Country 美国的斯里兰卡人回国效劳

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health and Lifestyle report.

Many people around the world leave their home country for a better education and better job in another country. 

A woman from Sri Lanka named Ashanthi Mathai has a story like that.

Ms. Mathai came to the United States from Sri Lanka in the early 1990s. She had a clear idea of what she wanted -- a good education. Ms. Mathai went to Princeton University in New Jersey¹ and got a degree in chemical engineering. She continued her education at Stanford Business School in California. Then, she began her career in the health care industry.

Now, Ms. Mathai has another goal -- helping² Sri Lanka.

Four years ago, Ashanthi Mathai was visiting Sri Lanka for her job. During the trip, someone asked her if she would be willing to collect used eye glasses in the United States. The donated glasses were to be used for a Sri Lankan program on preventing blindness.

"When I got that request, given I have a background in healthcare consulting in the U.S., I decided³ to take a look at the problem."

She learned there was a great need in Sri Lanka. She says many people in the country have vision problems that go untreated because of the high cost of eye care services.

Ms. Mathai notes a 2012 study.

“In Sri Lanka 50 percent of the population lives on less than (one) dollar 82 cents a day, on average.”

Eye glasses can cost between 50 and 100 U.S. dollars. So, they are out-of-reach to most of the population. But instead of recycling used glasses, Ms. Mathai took a different approach.

"I realized that it is actually possible to source new custom made eye glasses for just six US dollars."

A non-profit company gives the gift of eye care

Ashanthi Mathai founded So Others May See or SOMS. The non-profit company helps people who need eye care in Sri Lanka. To date, SOMS has helped about 24,000 adults with eye exams and new eye glasses.

So Others May See also partners with Sri Lanka's Ministry⁴ of Health to provide free eye care for children.

Dr. Asela Abeydeera is the Ministry's spokesperson. He says the three-year-old partnership⁵ has created many successful programs. One program sends mobile health centers to schools across Sri Lanka to carry out eye examinations. The service has changed the lives of the 900,000 students examined so far. He says some children are able to see the world again.

Ashanti Mathai says there is still more that needs to be done. She says she wants her non-profit, SOMS, to treat more complex cases and to prevent vision problems. She says she is also planning to expand the service to another part of the population. She says she wants to include people who may not be very poor but who still cannot afford to buy glasses.

Ms. Mathai understands how poor eyesight can affect a person’s life. She has used reading glasses from an early age. That poor eyesight has given her clearer insight⁶ on a world where everyone can see.

Words in This Story

vision – n. the ability to see : sight or eyesight

out-of-reach – adj. unable to be reached or obtained

mobile – adj. able to move with the use of vehicles (such as trucks and airplanes)

approach – n. a way of dealing⁷ with something : a way of doing or thinking about something

afford – v. to be able to pay for (something)

1 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

6 insight   

n.洞察力，洞悉，深刻的见解

参考例句：

• Good teachers have insight into the problems of students.好的教师能洞察学生的问题。
• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。