About Us
Helen Keller, our co-founder, overcame tremendous obstacles to her health and wellbeing – and helped millions of others to do the same. Guided by her remarkable legacy, we have partnered with communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty for more than 100 years. By delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition and clear vision, we help millions of people create lasting change in their own lives.
Since we were founded in 1915, our work has evolved from providing assistance to soldiers blinded during their service in World War I. Today, our programs prioritize preventing and treating vision loss and blindness—as well as addressing major global health problems such as malnutrition and neglected diseases that threaten sight, productivity, and well-being.
In Africa, Asia, Europe, and the U.S., Helen Keller International’s proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change. We build the capacity of local government, non-profit and private sector systems and infrastructure, and promote the development of sustained, large scale programs that deliver effective solutions to preventable vision loss and malnutrition.
Guided by Helen’s vision and optimism, we believe it is possible to eliminate preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and neglected tropical diseases and improve the well-being of millions of children and vulnerable families.
Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.
Helen Keller
Helen Keller’s Life and Legacy
Helen Keller was one of the world’s most heroic trailblazers for vulnerable people, and one of its most indelible examples of the power of the human spirit to overcome hardship. She triggered a watershed change for education, social justice, and health care for underrepresented groups of people and literally redefined our understanding of human potential.
Our Mission and Vision
Helen Keller International is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty.
Our History
Helen Keller International was co-founded in 1915 by two extraordinary individuals, Helen Keller and George Kessler, to assist soldiers blinded during their service in World War I
