Every Story Counts data

[{"date": "2025-07-21 15:40:12 +0100","title": "Hlabje Carel","headline": "Hlabje Carel","content": "Organisation: University of the Free State Location: South Africa Photographer: MyselfA powerful act of service brought eye care to a forgotten community in Ngqeleni, where no optometrist exist. Women led the line, many receiving their first eye test ever. Through our compassion and commitment we restored not just vision but hope to a marginalized population long denied basic health care.","story": "In the heart of Ngqeleni, Eastern Cape, lies a community tucked deep within gravel roads and forgotten maps, a place where access to eye care is not just scarce, it’s nonexistent. There isn’t a single optometrist in the entire district. For many, the idea of having their vision tested was a distant dream until now. In honour of Youth Month, we journeyed over eight hours with a group of dedicated optometry students from the University of the Free State to bring this essential service to those who need it most. What we found was heartbreaking: a long queue of hopeful faces, the majority of them women, many elderly, who had never had an eye examination in their lives. Some had been living with blurry vision for years, unknowingly enduring conditions that could be helped. With nowhere else to go, they waited patiently, many in silence, many with gratitude for their first-ever eye test, done by our student volunteers and myself. This was not just a clinic; it was a moment of justice for a marginalised community. A glimpse of light, literally and figuratively, for those left behind. Their smiles afterwards said it all: someone finally came.","location": "South Africa","organisation": "University of the Free State","photographer": "Myself","url": "hlabjecarelmasemola_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6166/attachments/original/1755250497/20250614_153046_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755250497"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:40:21 +0100","title": "Busisiwe","headline": "Busisiwe","content": "Organisation: Zimbabwe Council for the Blind Location: Zimbabwe Photographer: Grace JegedesheSteven’s story is a powerful reminder of how access to eye care can transform lives. From despair and poverty, he found hope through surgery at the Norton Eye Unit. With restored sight, he now dreams of rebuilding his life and securing a brighter future for his children.","story": "Steven Mutukudzi, a 65-year-old pensioner, endured three years of worsening vision and debilitating eye discomfort, which forced him to stop working and depend on his wife and young children to manage their small farm. As his condition deteriorated, the family fell into deep poverty, unable to meet basic needs or keep the children in school. Steven tried alternative remedies without success and grew increasingly hopeless. On April 17, 2025, he finally visited the Norton Eye Unit, borrowing bus fare from a neighbor. Despite financial challenges, the compassionate team diagnosed him with bilateral cataracts and successfully operated on one eye at no cost. The surgery marked a turning point in Steven’s life, bringing back light and hope. Grateful for this renewed opportunity, he became determined to work again, take on odd jobs, and care for the farm. His dream is to fund the second surgery and return his children to school, giving them the education and future they deserve. Steven’s journey is one of resilience and renewed hope, made possible through the support of the Norton Eye Unit, which not only restored his vision but gave him and his family a second chance at a better life.","location": "Zimbabwe","organisation": "Zimbabwe Council for the Blind","photographer": "Grace Jegedeshe","url": "busisiwemzyece_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6167/attachments/original/1755187302/Steven_Mutukudzi2_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755187302"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:41:00 +0100","title": "Rosario","headline": "Rosario","content": "Organisation: Eyes of the world Foundation Location: SpainRosario, a working mother from Bolivia, lost her sight suddenly, forcing her daughter to leave school and care for her. Despite the hardship, hope endured. With help from Eyes of the world, she regained her vision through surgery. Now, Rosario works, supports her family, and continues chasing her dreams.","story": "Rosario, a hardworking mother from Oruro, Bolivia, made a living selling soft drinks during the day and flaxseed at night to support her children. However, one day she woke up to find she had completely lost her sight. In an instant, darkness took over her world. Walking without assistance became impossible, and the fear of falling paralyzed her. Faced with this harsh reality, her daughter dropped out of school to care for the family. Even so, they never stopped holding on to hope. That’s when the Eyes of the world foundation reached out a helping hand. Thanks to our support, Rosario underwent surgery that restored vision in one of her eyes. She is now waiting for a second procedure. This miracle changed her life. The day after surgery, she opened her eyes and could see again. With tears of joy, she embraced the chance to resume her daily routine and reclaim her dreams and hopes. The emotional and financial support they received helped them get back on their feet. Today, this family shows that, even when adversity seems overwhelming, with help and hope, it is always possible to overcome any obstacle and keep moving forward.","location": "Spain","organisation": "Eyes of the world Foundation","photographer": "","url": "elisendarom_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6170/attachments/original/1755250973/Rosario_Lima_1_1_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755250973"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:41:00 +0100","title": "Helena","headline": "Helena","content": "Organisation: Renovatio Location: BrazilRenovatio is taking ophthalmology to the most remote and vulnerable places in Brazil With vehicles adapted into mobile eye clinics, Renovatio's story is evidence that every initiative can transform realities. Every consultation counts, every pair of eyeglasses donated counts, every story counts.","story": "Quick, free and effective care reaches Helena Abia, 12 years old, is a student at EMEF Professor Domingos Rubino, located in São Paulo. Since she was little, her mother noticed a dark spot on her right eye, but without any apparent complaints or previous referrals. In 2024, during an action of the Avança Saúde Escolar – Ophthalmology Program, coordinated by the Suel Abujamra Institute (ISA), the team performed ophthalmological exams directly at the school and identified the lesion as a suspected conjunctival melanoma, a rare but potentially serious tumor that can compromise vision if not treated early. The response was immediate: Helena was urgently referred to the ISA Hospital, a reference in ophthalmology in the city. According to her mother, the appointment took place on a Friday at school, and the hospital contacted her the following Monday to schedule specialized care. More detailed examinations were performed, and the medical team concluded that it was a benign tumor – the most common type of conjunctival lesion. Even so, the case continues to be closely monitored, with continued use of eye drops and the possibility of surgery in the future, if the spot shows any changes.","location": "Brazil","organisation": "Renovatio","photographer": "","url": "ralftoenjes_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6171/attachments/original/1755170420/ralftoenjes_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170420"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:41:00 +0100","title": "Rebeca and Yasmin","headline": "Rebeca and Yasmin","content": "Organisation: Renovatio Location: BrazilRenovatio is taking ophthalmology to the most remote and vulnerable places in Brazil With vehicles adapted into mobile eye clinics, Renovatio's story is evidence that every initiative can transform realities. Every consultation counts, every pair of eyeglasses donated counts, every story counts.","story": "Rebeca and Yasmin:Free and ongoing treatment for childhood strabismus Rebeca and Yasmin are the same age and share another experience in common:they are both receiving free treatment for strabismus from the Suel Abujamra Institute, after being diagnosed during school visits. Rebeca lives with her mother, Erlane, her father, a gardener, and her younger brother in São Paulo. She started using a patch when she was only 1 year and 2 months old, but had to stop the treatment after the doctor who was treating her retired. It was through the Avança Saúde Escolar-Ophthalmology Program that Rebeca had access to a new evaluation and was immediately referred to the ISA hospital, where she resumed her treatment. Yasmin, who dreams of being a veterinarian, lives with her parents in the South Zone. She also has astigmatism and myopia and uses a patch and glasses. “This project is extremely important,” says her father, Joedson. “Many children need glasses and treatment, but their families can’t even afford the consultation,” adds their mother, Delva. Thanks to the project, they have access to complete ophthalmological treatment, specialized monitoring, and the chance to grow up with autonomy, self-esteem, and visual health.","location": "Brazil","organisation": "Renovatio","photographer": "","url": "ralfrenovatiotoenjes_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6172/attachments/original/1755170424/ralfrenovatiotoenjes_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170424"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:41:00 +0100","title": "Fatma","headline": "Fatma","content": "Location: IraqEye health equals community. My mom took me to my first eye surgery 10 years ago. Now, we scrub in together. My goal is to ensure eye health for all and that where we are from or based does not dictate how clearly we get to see the world, literally.","story": "Eye health equals community. My mom took me to my first eye surgery 10 years ago. Now, we scrub in together. My goal is to ensure eye health for all and that where we are from or based does not dictate how clearly we get to see the world, literally.","location": "Iraq","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "fatmashakarchi_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6173/attachments/original/1755170427/fatmashakarchi_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170427"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:42:00 +0100","title": "Caio","headline": "Caio","content": "Organisation: Suel Abujamra Institute Location: BrazilI entered the field of eye health after my father's passing, when I truly understood the deeper purpose behind our work: to preserve and restore sight, profoundly impacting people's lives.","story": "My mission is to transform the scenario of eye care in Brazil by ensuring and democratizing access to quality visual health services for all. What drives me most is witnessing the moments when our work truly changes lives: children receiving eyeglasses in schools, Indigenous people seeing clearly for the first time, elderly patients regaining their vision after cataract surgery. Seeing hope and life return to their faces—like magic—is what inspires me every single day.","location": "Brazil","organisation": "Suel Abujamra Institute","photographer": "","url": "caioabujamra_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6174/attachments/original/1755170458/caioabujamra_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170458"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:41:43 +0100","title": "Samit Sakib","headline": "Samit Sakib","content": "Organisation: Vision Friend Sakib Gore Location: India Tula taught me that a single specs can restore more than vision. It can restore dignity, hope, and the chance to dream again. His courage shaped my perspective and showed me how the smallest act in eye care can lead to the biggest change in someone’s life.","story": "In 2015, at a rural eye camp in the tribal village of Phangulgavhan. I met Tula, 19-year-old crawling on his hands beside his mother. Paralyzed due to polio, his poor vision had forced him to drop out of college, convinced his dream of a dignified life was over. When my father asked, he quietly said, I can’t see the blackboard. They call me blind, handicapped. His teacher, unaware of his condition, punished him for not paying attention.All Tula wanted was a Specs. We didn’t have his high prescription at the camp, but I promised to return. Three days later, I brought his glasses back myself. When I placed them on his eyes, his face lit up and so did his future.Today, he has a job, a wife, and three children. And every year, he still visits our camps with a warm smile and a cup of tea in gratitude.Tula didn’t just regain vision, he helped me understand the true impact of our work. His story sparked Young Eyes, our school-based vision program. This is more than a story. It’s a reminder that specs can change the course of a life.","location": "India","organisation": "Vision Friend Sakib Gore","photographer": "","url": "samitsakibgore_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6175/attachments/original/1755254575/Tula_and_Samit_for_IAPB_Every_Story_Counts_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755254575"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:42:00 +0100","title": "Juania Mela Mora Cuna","headline": "Juania Mela Mora Cuna","content": "Location: Haiti As a nurse in Haiti, I started my journey in eye health after seeing firsthand the challenges that vision problems bring to individuals and communities. I'm committed to improving access to eye care, educating others, and advocating for change to ensure that everyone can benefit from better vision and health.","story": "I started my career in eye health in Haiti because I witnessed the significant impact that vision problems have on individuals and communities. This experience motivated me to pursue a path where I could make a real difference in improving access to eye care. My goal is to create sustainable solutions that ensure everyone, regardless of their background, has access to the eye care they need. I am committed to educating people about the importance of eye health and raising awareness in communities where resources are limited.nIn Haiti, where access to healthcare can be a challenge, I work to bridge the gap by offering practical solutions that empower individuals to take care of their vision. I am passionate about advocating for eye health on a larger scale, promoting systemic change, and making it a global priority. As a young leader in the field, I believe that every effort counts, and I am dedicated to bringing about lasting change that can help people see the world more clearly and live healthier lives.","location": "Haiti","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "juaniamelamoracunaauguste_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6176/attachments/original/1753108922/juaniamelamoracunaauguste_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1753108922"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:42:18 +0100","title": "Bharti","headline": "Bharti","content": "Location: India I firmly believe that everyone has the right to sight. My vision is to establish a Comprehensive Eye Care delivery model for India that ensures accessible, affordable, and quality eye care, especially for underserved communities, empowering them to lead healthier, more productive lives free from avoidable blindness.","story": "My journey in eye care began in 2015 when I was 20, driven by a passion to serve underserved communities. Over the past nine years, I have worked extensively in Community Ophthalmology, focusing on strengthening primary eye care services in rural regions of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. This experience deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities and inspired me to make a lasting impact.To enhance my skills, I completed a one-month Management Training and System Development program for Hospital Administrators at Aravind Eye Hospital, LAICO, Madurai, in 2018. This training provided valuable insights into hospital operations and outreach, shaping my approach to community eye care. Since then, I have led initiatives such as the Disability Inclusion Comprehensive Eye Health Program, Government School Screening Programs, and Rural Eye Health Initiatives, collaborating with international NGOs to expand their reach and impact.Although I initially pursued a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, my true calling led me to complete a Master’s in Hospital Administration, equipping me with the expertise to drive sustainable healthcare programs. As I continue to grow in this field, my commitment to making quality eye care accessible to underserved populations remains unwavering.","location": "India","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "bhartijanyani_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6178/attachments/original/1755170465/bhartijanyani_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170465"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:42:30 +0100","title": "Ameer","headline": "Ameer","content": "Location: Lebanon I was born into a world where education was a distant dream—until a scholarship changed everything. That journey lit a fire in me to give back. Now, I fight relentlessly to make eye care a right, not a privilege, so no one is left in the dark.","story": "I came from a poor family where education was out of reach—until a scholarship allowed me to study optometry and change my future. I worked tirelessly, day and night, to earn that opportunity, and it lit a fire in me—a fire to give back. I chose public eye health, not just optometry, to ensure those in need get the care they deserve. I will fight endlessly to make eye care a right, not a privilege!During my graduation, the university president, Dr. Hiam Sakr, spoke words that have never left me: 'Lebanon needs men to match its mountains.' Those words became my mission. My purpose was bigger than a career—it was about transforming lives through vision.With that calling, I founded the Vision Care Association to bring public eye health to the forefront. We work to make eye care accessible, build awareness on preventable blindness, advocate for policies that strengthen public health, and support research shaping the future of vision care.This journey has been filled with challenges, but my vision remains clear—where eye care knows no boundaries, and no one is left behind","location": "Lebanon","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "ameerabouadela_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6179/attachments/original/1753108951/ameerabouadela_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1753108951"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:42:34 +0100","title": "Mehran","headline": "Mehran","content": "Location: Pakistan “As an IAPB Young Systems Leader, I am committed to shaping the future of vision care through strategic Digital Transformation. My mission is to harness Technology’s potential to eliminate Preventable Blindness and create a more inclusive, Data-driven, and Patient-centered Eye Health ecosystem.”","story": "","location": "Pakistan","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "mehranmemon_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6180/attachments/original/1755170476/mehranmemon_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170476"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:42:38 +0100","title": "Micaela","headline": "Micaela","content": "Organisation: Associação de Profissionais Licenciados de Optometria Location: Portugal I aim to bridge health care gaps and empower vulnerable communities through advocacy and action, driven by a vision of equitable eye care for all, ensuring that sight is a right, not a privilege.","story": "My journey in eye health began with observing the inequalities in access to healthcare, especially for vulnerable communities. I saw how lack of access to eye care had a profound impact on people's quality of life and autonomy. This reality sparked a deep passion in me to fight for a more just and equitable healthcare system.My goal is to help build a world where everyone, regardless of their social condition, has access to quality eye care. I believe that health is a fundamental right and that through collaboration and innovation we can overcome the challenges that prevent universal access to healthcare.I am a passionate advocate for eye health and for the inclusion and autonomy of people with disabilities. I believe that health is a fundamental right and that through collaboration and innovation we can overcome the challenges that prevent universal access to healthcare.","location": "Portugal","organisation": "Associação de Profissionais Licenciados de Optometria","photographer": "","url": "micaelareis_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6181/attachments/original/1755170481/micaelareis_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170481"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 16:16:00 +0100","title": "Michael","headline": "Michael","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: United States“The eye is the window to the body. It sees everything and transmits information to the brain. If you can’t see, then you are lacking.”","story": "As a graphic designer, 27-year-old Michael Ankomanyi creates visual elements to delight the senses. Losing his sight meant not only losing his livelihood but also his identity as an artist. “The eye is the window to the body. It sees everything and transmits information to the brain. If you can’t see, then you are lacking.” Michael needed help. “I have experienced very dark moments; I lost all hope. For days, I would sit in my room and cry. I never imagined regaining my sight again.” He learned of a Cure Blindness Project outreach that provided free sight-restoring cataract surgeries. The NGO has an extensive network of partners in Ghana. Michael knew he had to go. “I was initially scared of the surgical procedure, but I needed to conquer my fears or live in darkness forever. As a young man, the thoughts of being unable to make a living and move about by myself were even scarier.” Again able to see, Michael is able to create. “I want to thank Cure Blindness Project for providing these life-changing interventions. For me, hope is restored!”","location": "United States","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "jeffwallace_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6182/attachments/original/1755250263/CureBlindnessProject_MichaelAnkomanyi_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755250263"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:42:55 +0100","title": "Mamiko Fenella","headline": "Mamiko Fenella","content": "Location: Philippines We can make a difference by creating a safe eye care space for children with special needs for them to reach their full potential.Will you join me to advocate for them?","story": "As a neurodevelopmental optometrist, I've dedicated my career to helping children with special needs achieve their full potential. But my journey to this specialization began with a chance encounter when I met a mother of a child with Down syndrome sharing the heartbreaking reality that many optical clinics turn away children with special needs, And able to set appointments to see ophthalmologists they receive rushed evaluation with little patience from them. This conversation sparked a fire within me. At that moment, I knew I can make a difference they deserved better. Driven by passion and purpose, I decided to make my optometry practice a safe, welcoming space where these children could receive the eyecare they deserved. Also, I allot minimum one hour for their eye evaluation.My experience has shown me that children with special needs require compassion, understanding, and patience. I've seen firsthand the impact that dedicated care can have on these children's lives.In sharing my story I am hoping for them to receive quality, patient-centered care and for the government to recognize the importance of tailored care and to work towards creating an inclusive, compassionate healthcare system.","location": "Philippines","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "mamikofenellasy_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6183/attachments/original/1753108977/mamikofenellasy_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1753108977"}, {"date": "2025-07-21 15:43:02 +0100","title": "Mohamed Abdukadir","headline": "Mohamed Abdukadir","content": "Location: Somalia “To accept an idea that was never tested before is an indication of a great mind.” Initially rejecting the idea of opening Somalia’s first optometry faculty, I later embraced the challenge. After persistent efforts, we succeeded in 2018. Today, the faculty thrives with graduates shaping eye care.","story": "“To accept an idea that was never tested before is an indication of a great mind.”I first came across this sentence during my college days in Pakistan while preparing for my career in optometry.After graduating, I returned to Somalia and began working with a colleague who had a bold idea, establishing the first Faculty of Optometry in South and Central Somalia. At first, I rejected the idea, fearing the instability and security challenges Somalia faced. But then, I remembered that quote. If no one had tested this idea before, wasn’t that all the more reason to try?Determined, we approached universities, only to face rejection after rejection. Private institutions were hesitant, questioning whether students would even enroll in a program unfamiliar to the country. But we refused to give up. After persistent efforts, Aden Adde International University in Mogadishu gave us the opportunity in 2018.Today, the faculty has over 50 students and celebrated its first 11 graduates in 2024. What once seemed impossible is now shaping the future of eye care in Somalia. It all began with the courage to embrace an untested idea.","location": "Somalia","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "mohamedabdukadirkalif_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6185/attachments/original/1753108983/mohamedabdukadirkalif_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1753108983"}, {"date": "2025-07-25 13:08:21 +0100","title": "Bruna","headline": "Bruna","content": "Organisation: Renovatio Location: Brazil I chose ophthalmology because I believe that sight is a fundamental right, not a privilege.","story": "My purpose is to care for people with empathy, science, and dignity—especially those in vulnerable situations. I am passionate about bringing light back to people’s eyes and hope to their hearts.","location": "Brazil","organisation": "Renovatio","photographer": "","url": "brunagil-ferreira_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6862/attachments/original/1755170452/brunagil-ferreira_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170452"}, {"date": "2025-07-25 13:08:41 +0100","title": "Ameer","headline": "Ameer","content": "Location: Lebanon I was born into a world where education was a distant dream—until a scholarship changed everything. That journey lit a fire in me to give back. Now, I fight relentlessly to make eye care a right, not a privilege, so no one is left in the dark.","story": "I came from a poor family where education was out of reach—until a scholarship allowed me to study optometry and change my future. I worked tirelessly, day and night, to earn that opportunity, and it lit a fire in me—a fire to give back. I chose public eye health, not just optometry, to ensure those in need get the care they deserve. I will fight endlessly to make eye care a right, not a privilege!During my graduation, the university president, Dr. Hiam Sakr, spoke words that have never left me: 'Lebanon needs men to match its mountains.' Those words became my mission. My purpose was bigger than a career—it was about transforming lives through vision.With that calling, I founded the Vision Care Association to bring public eye health to the forefront. We work to make eye care accessible, build awareness on preventable blindness, advocate for policies that strengthen public health, and support research shaping the future of vision care.This journey has been filled with challenges, but my vision remains clear—where eye care knows no boundaries, and no one is left behind","location": "Lebanon","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "ameerabou-adela_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6863/attachments/original/1755170471/ameerabou-adela_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170471"}, {"date": "2025-07-25 13:09:04 +0100","title": "Dr Said","headline": "Dr Said","content": "Location: Somalia Dr. Said H Gedi founded Community Eye Hospital in Mogadishu in 2017 to address the lack of eye care services. He has performed over 20,000 surgeries and leads national eye health initiatives.","story": "Dr. Said Hussein Gedi, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, founded Community Eye Hospital in Mogadishu in 2017 due to the lack of dedicated eye care facilities, Senior lecturer, Somali National University. The hospital currently has 10 beds and performs 10 surgeries per week, though outreach programs significantly increase this number. Plans are underway to expand capacity to 50-100 beds with support from LCIF.Dr. Gedi has conducted over 20,000 cataract and ocular surgeries across Somalia, supported by organizations like MSF, Qatar Charity, Islamic Development Bank, and Charity Vision. He also serves as a senior lecturer at Somali National University and is the Technical Advisor for National Prevention of Blindness at the Ministry of Health, leading efforts to develop Somalia’s first national eye health strategic plan since 1991.A member of Lions Club Afgoye, Dr. Gedi has led school screening programs and initiatives for children with disabilities. He expresses gratitude to the Bavarian Lions Club for sponsoring four Somali ophthalmologists. Seeking to enhance eye care services, he hopes to establish a Sister Club partnership with Lions Club Germany or Bavarian Lions Club to expand Sight First programs, improve infrastructure, train eye health workers, and acquire advanced ophthalmic equipment.","location": "Somalia","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "dr-saidgedi_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6865/attachments/original/1755250126/Dr_Said_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1755250126"}, {"date": "2025-07-25 13:09:00 +0100","title": "Mohamed Abdukadir","headline": "Mohamed Abdukadir","content": "Location: SomaliaChose to return to Somalia after my optometry studies to serve where the need is greatest, cofounding the only optometry faculty in South Central Somalia and leading eye care outreach driven by my late grandmother’s struggle with poor vision and my promise to make eye care accessible for all.","story": "In 2017, I made a decision that surprised many, after completing my optometry studies in Pakistan, I returned home to Somalia, a country grappling with insecurity and chronic underinvestment in healthcare. I could have pursued a comfortable career in the developed countries but instead chose to go where help was needed most. In 2018 i cofounded and still am the deputy Director of the only faculty of Optometry in South and central Somalia, where most of the country population resides. In addition, I am the Project Manager of an organization called Charity Vision Somalia, most of the Fridays, I travels 30 kilometers outside the capital to run eye camps, providing checkups for villagers. In the early 2000s, my grandmother was left aphakic after undergoing cataract surgery and forced to rely on thick +10.00 diopter that left bruises on her face. Her glasses were so heavy they left painful marks on her nose, I used to tell her that one day, I’d become an eye doctor and make things better for her. Although she passed away before I could finish my education, her struggle remains a powerful source of inspiration behind my mission to make eye care more accessible for everyone. ","location": "Somalia","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "mohamed-abdukadirkalif_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/6866/attachments/original/1755173654/a587fdf2-9fac-43fa-b578-c8d3838fff60_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1755173654"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 12:15:00 +0100","title": "Tefera","headline": "Tefera","content": "Organisation: Light for the World Location: Austria Photographer: Adem Mengistu / Blen Hagazi / Light for the WorldTefera Hiluf’s dedication and expertise has created remarkable progress in the work towards eliminating trachoma in Ethiopia. Together with his team and partners he has worked not only to administer medication, but to spread awareness and mobilise communities from the grassroots.","story": "Tefera Hiluf is a Neglected Tropical Diseases and Mass Drug Administration (MDA) expert at the Mekoni District Health Office in Tigray, Ethiopia. He works to eliminate trachoma — a preventable cause of blindness still affecting his community. His typical day begins early, often filled with travel to rural areas, community mobilisation, and overseeing house-to-house awareness raising and medicine distribution. “Although many think diseases like trachoma are a thing of the past, in reality, they are still affecting many people, particularly in remote areas,” Tefera says. “Helping to eliminate trachoma is not just about preventing a disease — it’s about preserving dignity, independence and opportunity”. Thanks to support from Light for the World, Tefera’s team has made remarkable progress: trachoma prevalence in the region has dropped from 40% to just 5%. The partnership has brought not only medicine but also education and training that ripples across the community. Tefera calls for support in the fight to eliminate trachoma in Ethiopia: “Donations are essential because they fund medication, awareness campaigns, training and WASH improvements, all of which are critical in tackling this disease effectively,” he says.","location": "Austria","organisation": "Light for the World","photographer": "Adem Mengistu / Blen Hagazi / Light for the World","url": "emmafullerton_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7190/attachments/original/1755170176/emmafullerton_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170176"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 12:16:18 +0100","title": "ZOYA","headline": "ZOYA","content": "Location: India Photographer: Zoya Naaz (Personal Collection)Arslaan was born with a battle to fight, but he roared through it like a lion. His story is a reminder to act early, screen every newborn, and never underestimate the strength of a tiny heart with a brave spirit. Watch full story here:https://youtu.be/bkcCv8Az64Q","story": "Arslaan was born prematurely and admitted to the NICU for over 1.5 months. His early life was filled with pain - tiny feet and hands pricked with needles, an oxygen pipe in his nose, and a battle for survival. On the day of discharge, we were informed of his diagnosis: Stage 4B Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). That single moment changed everything. What followed were laser treatments, major surgeries, and years of follow-ups. Even in the face of discomfort and pain, Arslaan endured every procedure with quiet strength- the kind far beyond his years. That spirit of courage is what defined him. We named him Arslaan-a name that means “lion” - not for how loud he roared, but for how bravely he fought without ever giving up.Despite irreversible vision loss in his left eye, Arslaan continues to shine. He’s passionate about cricket, academically brilliant, and full of life. Inspired by his strength, I chose optometry - to bring awareness to conditions like ROP and the importance of early screening. This is more than a case — it’s a call to protect vision, act early, and believe in the resilience of even the tiniest lives.","location": "India","organisation": "","photographer": "Zoya Naaz (Personal Collection)","url": "zoyanaaz_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7191/attachments/original/1755170180/zoyanaaz_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170180"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 12:16:22 +0100","title": "Abdullah Ali","headline": "Abdullah Ali","content": "Location: Somalia Photographer: Somali Eye CareI am working to build a strong, self‑sustaining eye care system in Somalia so that every person poor or rich can access the full range of services, from basic eye care to advanced treatment, ensuring that no one is needlessly blind when their sight can be restored.","story": "During my MBBS studies in Somalia, I saw how preventable blindness was taking away people’s independence and limiting their future. In both rural areas and the capital, access to even the most basic eye care was almost non‑existent. People suffering from cataracts, corneal disease, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and other avoidable causes of blindness were left untreated simply because the services, trained professionals and equipment they needed were not available. At that time, Somalia had no institution to train ophthalmologists, meaning anyone wishing to specialise had to leave the country.Determined to change this reality, I trained abroad, completing my ophthalmology residency in Belarus, cataract surgery training in Bangladesh, and now a cornea fellowship at Aravind Eye Hospital in India.In 2019, I founded Somali Eye Care, a non‑profit eye care organization working to create a strong, self‑sustaining eye care system in Somalia. Built on the belief that sight is the right of every person poor or rich Our system combines a hospital, an institute and outreach programs. We aim to make the full spectrum of services accessible to all, extend eye care to every community, remove barriers and build a skilled eye care workforce.","location": "Somalia","organisation": "","photographer": "Somali Eye Care","url": "abdullah-alihussain_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7192/attachments/original/1755170185/abdullah-alihussain_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170185"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 12:16:27 +0100","title": "Eithar","headline": "Eithar","content": "Organisation: Noor Dubai Foundation Location: United Arab Emirates Photographer: Lyassin ChaouiAriana, a 12-year-old girl from the Philippines, received free life-changing cataract surgery through Noor Dubai Foundation’s International Outreach Program. This story highlights the emotional journey of her family, the impact of restored vision, and how one surgery brought back her ability to learn, play, and thrive.","story": "“I felt sad that I couldn’t see anymore. I was jealous of the other kids who could.”At just 12 years old, Ariana’s world was slipping away. Living in Bulacan, Philippines, she struggled in school unable to keep up with classmates or enjoy playtime. Cataracts in both eyes had robbed her of learning, confidence, and connection.Her parents were devastated. They knew surgery was the only answer, but it was unaffordable.Then came hope.As part of Noor Dubai Foundation’s International Outreach Program, a free eye camp was held in Bulacan. A local basketball court turned into a temporary clinic where Ariana’s family brought her with cautious hope.Seeing how anxious she was, the medical team moved quickly, skipping the waitlist and escorting her straight to the operating room. “I didn’t know how she’d handle it,” her mother recalls. “She was so scared.”Just 30 minutes later, the surgeons announced the procedure was a success.Slowly, Ariana’s world came back into view colors and faces. She returned to school, confident and eager to learn and play again.That one surgery didn’t just restore her vision. It restored her childhood, her confidence, and her future.","location": "United Arab Emirates","organisation": "Noor Dubai Foundation","photographer": "Lyassin Chaoui","url": "eitharahmed_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7193/attachments/original/1755170189/eitharahmed_every_story_counts_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755170189"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 12:19:21 +0100","title": "Narendra","headline": "Narendra","content": "Location: India Photographer: Narendra KumarOptometry Today quarterly journal aims at improving people's eye care through better-informed eye care professionals.","story": "Optometry was introduced in India in the year 1958. I qualified in 1961 by way of a Diploma in Optometry qualification. I joined Sir Ganga Ram Hospital as Refractionist in 1962, and worked there for 30 long years. While in service, I studied for Bachelor in Ayurrvedic Medicine and PG Certificate in Rehabilitation qualifications and started the Optometry Today journal. Optometry Today now runs in 55th year of publication, and aims at improving people's eye care through better-informed eye care professionals.","location": "India","organisation": "","photographer": "Narendra Kumar","url": "narendrakumar_every_story_counts","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7194/attachments/original/1755173445/Narenda_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1755173445"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 16:17:00 +0100","title": "Melakamu - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Melakamu","content": "Organisation: Light For The World Location: Austria Photographer: E.Fullerton\"The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the smiles on those children's faces after they have received their eyeglasses,” says Melakamu Yitayew, an optometrist in Ethiopia. “It is what motivates me to keep doing what I am doing.” ","story": "Melakamu Yitayew, 28, is an optometrist working at Arba Minch Hospital Secondary Eye Care Unit in Southern Ethiopia. He plays a vital role in the Child Eye Health programme, training teachers to screen thousands of students for vision problems. “For example, Sikela Primary School has nearly 4,000 students, and all of them are screened by trained teachers,” he explains. “Then we come here to rescreen the short-listed students and make an appropriate vision diagnosis.” If needed, students are referred to the hospital. Those with uncorrected refractive error receive free prescription eyeglasses. Others are treated with medications for infections like conjunctivitis. Melakamu was trained through a Light for the World programme and is proud of the difference this work makes. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the smiles on those children's faces after they have received their eyeglasses, he says. “Hearing how a simple provision of eyeglasses has impacted a child's life and educational performance is what motivates me to keep doing what I am doing.","location": "Austria
Photographer: E.Fullerton","organisation": "Light For The World
Location: Austria
Photographer: E.Fullerton","photographer": "E.Fullerton","url": "melakamu","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7197/attachments/original/1755179268/972A9470_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755179268"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 14:50:00 +0100","title": "Isaac - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Isaac","content": "Organisation: Light For The World Location: Austria Photographer: E.Fullerton“People come from all over the country to see me and that is really great,” says Dr Vasco da Gama, the first paediatric ophthalmologist in Mozambique. “For me I’m happy, because I save the vision of kids.”","story": "Dr Isaac Vasco da Gama was, until recently, the only ophthalmologist dedicated to child eye health in Mozambique, a country of 32 million. He dreams of a day when all Mozambican children have access to quality eye care. “I like things that are difficult, that other people don’t want to do,” he says. Dr Vasco da Gama received sponsorship from Light for the World under the 1, 2, 3, I can see! programme to become an ophthalmologist. He now treats around 50 children a week at Quelimane Central Hospital, where he is head of the eye department, and performs about five surgeries. “People come from all over the country to see me and that is really great,” Dr Vasco da Gama says. “For me I’m happy, because I save the vision of kids.” Despite numerous challenges, restoring a child’s sight and seeing the reactions of their grateful parents makes the work worthwhile. “Sometimes I have thought I’d chosen the wrong speciality,” Dr Vasco da Gama says. “But seeing those reactions is the best gift I have received. It encourages me a lot to work and think we can make progress.”","location": "Austria
Photographer: E.Fullerton","organisation": "Light For The World
Location: Austria
Photographer: E.Fullerton","photographer": "E.Fullerton","url": "isaac","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7198/attachments/original/1755179510/8D4A0656_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755179510"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 14:53:00 +0100","title": "Rassidatou - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Rassidatou","content": "Organisation: Light For The World Location: Austria Photographer: E.FullertonReceiving glasses restored 12-year-old Rassidatou Ouattara’s confidence. She is now able to see better, focus on class, hang out with her friends and pursue her dream of becoming a journalist.","story": "Rassidatou Ouattara, 12, is a bright student at Korana “C” school in Banfora, Burkina Faso. Two years ago, her life began to change. “It all started when my vision started to blur, and it was almost impossible for me to see the writing on the board,” she says. She struggled to keep up in class and could no longer enjoy playing with her friends after dark. “From 6 p.m. onward, I couldn’t go out. I wasn’t happy — my eye problems changed my daily life and deprived me of quality time with my friends,” she says. Thanks to the “1, 2, 3 I Can See!” child eye health project, led by Light for the World, Rassidatou was seen by an ophthalmologist and received a free pair of glasses. “Since I received the glasses, I can see well when I sit at the back of the class. My vision has improved enormously,” she says. Rassidatou won’t stop there. She has dreams, now clearer than ever. “My dream is to become a journalist, to be able to share information with the people of Burkina Faso,” she says.","location": "Austria
Photographer: E.Fullerton","organisation": "Light For The World
Location: Austria
Photographer: E.Fullerton","photographer": "E.Fullerton","url": "rassidatou","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7199/attachments/original/1755179697/_DSC2029_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755179697"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 14:56:00 +0100","title": "Dalila - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Dalila","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristIn a São Paulo favela named “New Hope,” a young girl rediscovers her vision and pride in her family’s future. ","story": "In the heart of Vila Nova Esperança, São Paulo’s “green favela,” Dalila shares a 10-square-meter home with her six siblings and parents. It’s a tight space, but it’s filled with resilience, and, now, new vision. At a GoodVision eye camp, Dalila was diagnosed with severe myopia (-3.5 diopters). For too long, she had struggled to see the blackboard at school, missing out on lessons, details, and confidence. But that day, she left with a pair of individually fitted GoodVision Glasses and a new ability to learn with clarity. Her story, though, is also deeply connected to someone else’s: her brother, Hobson. After school, Hobson worked at GoodVision, helping produce the very glasses that would one day change his sister’s life. With his wages, he began saving to study geography. Dalila is proud of her brother not just because he made great glasses, but because he helped make a future. In a place called “New Hope,” vision isn’t just restored -it’s passed forward, one sibling, one student, one dream at a time.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "dalila","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7200/attachments/original/1755179816/Dalila_GV_Brazil_Martin_Aufmuth_MAIN_IMAGE.JPG?1755179816"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 14:57:00 +0100","title": "Suzanna - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Suzanna","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristA 74-year-old grandmother from the Amazon journeys by land and river to regain not just her sight - but her livelihood.","story": "Suzanna Marciel is 74 and lives in a remote riverside village in the Brazilian Amazon. To reach a recent GoodVision eye camp in the community of Palestine near Manacapuru, she boarded a bus, a boat for five hours, and then another bus, traveling the better part of a day to get there. She came with a simple hope: to see clearly again. Suzanna has 15 children, 54 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. For the past ten years, poor vision had kept her from sewing - an important part of how she supported her family. But at the outreach, she received her first pair of GoodVision Glasses. With them, her vision and her independence were restored. She can sew again. She can earn again. Her story isn’t just about the distance she traveled that day - it’s about the years she’s reclaimed, the self-reliance she’s regained, and the quiet power of possibility at any age. Sometimes, a pair of glasses is more than a tool. It’s a return to purpose.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "suzanna","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7201/attachments/original/1755179933/Suzana_GV_Brazil_Martin_Aufmuth_MAIN_IMAGE.JPG?1755179933"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 16:13:00 +0100","title": "Stephen -Every Story Counts","headline": "Stephen","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristA tinsmith in rural Malawi regains the vision he needs to continue crafting a living, one careful cut at a time. ","story": "Every morning, Stephen Jackson sets off for work in Chingalu, Malawi, propelling himself forward on his handcycle. As a tinsmith, precision is everything - sharp lines, steady hands, and most critically, clear sight. But in recent years, that last piece had begun to fade. Fine details blurred. Edges lost their crispness. The work he once did with ease became difficult and dangerous. When Stephen heard that GoodVision was offering eye exams in his village, he didn’t hesitate. He made his way to the camp, hoping for a solution. He left with GoodVision Glasses and got straight back to work. Stephen never stopped showing up. He just needed the clarity to keep doing what he does best. Because when you restore vision, you’re not just helping someone see—you’re helping them stay in motion, stay employed, and stay proud of what they build. ","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "stephen","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7202/attachments/original/1755180320/Stephen_Jackson_GV_Malawi_Jakob_Neundorfer_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755180320"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 16:12:00 +0100","title": "Joseph - Every Story Counts","headline": "Joseph","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristFor a Malawian mechanic approaching 50, the ability to read again isn’t just about sight - it’s about staying skilled, capable, and independent.","story": "Joseph Msampa has spent most of his life under the hood of a car. As a mechanic in Malawi, small details matter: engine stamps, serial numbers, seals. But those details started slipping out of focus when he was just 25. At first, he managed. Now, nearing 50, the strain has grown harder to ignore. “When I try to read small things, it is much easier for me with the glasses,” he says. “I have to read different parts on engines and boxes in my day-to-day job—and it is much easier for me now!” Joseph heard about GoodVision through a street advertisement and made his way to an eye camp. There, he received a pair of glasses tailored to his needs - no long wait, no unreachable cost, just a simple, lasting solution. Today, he’s back to doing what he does best: solving problems, fixing engines, providing for his family. Sometimes, restoring someone’s sight isn’t about changing what they see, it’s about making sure they can keep doing what they’ve always done.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "joseph","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7203/attachments/original/1755180270/Joseph_Msampa_GV_Malawi_Jakob_Neundorfer_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755180270"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 15:06:00 +0100","title": "Philipmena - Every Story Counts","headline": "Philipmena","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristIn a crowded classroom in Monrovia, a student once mocked for her eyesight now sees a future she couldn’t before. ","story": "For years, Philipmena knew how to survive school without clear vision. She had no choice. If she didn’t get a front-row seat in her overcrowded classroom in Monrovia, Liberia, she couldn’t see the board. So, she’d walk up to it during lessons, copy down what she could, and retreat back to her desk. The teasing from classmates stung, “Why not just get glasses?”, but she stayed quiet. The truth? Glasses were never an option. She’s the youngest of nine children. Her mother, a market vendor, was doing everything she could to keep her enrolled in school - sometimes negotiating to pay tuition in installments. Everything changed in ninth grade when Refuge Place International, GoodVision’s partner in Liberia, visited her school. An exam confirmed what she’d known for years: she needed high-powered lenses. The team arranged for her to receive a free pair. Now in tenth grade, Philipmena wears GoodVision glasses every day. Her grades are up. The teasing is gone. And her dream of becoming a doctor is finally in focus. Sometimes, the right seat in the classroom starts with the right pair of glasses. ","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "philipmena","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7204/attachments/original/1755180426/Philipmena_GV_Liberia_GoodVision_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755180426"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 15:07:00 +0100","title": "Josphat - Every story counts","headline": "Josphat","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristAn eleven-year-old boy in coastal Kenya sees clearly for the first time and begins to understand the world he’s only ever felt. ","story": "At first, Josphat Charo enters the room tentatively, tiptoeing, clutching his father’s hand, his movements shaped more by sound and trust than sight. He doesn’t speak much, and he doesn’t go to school. But at GoodVision’s eye camp north of Mombasa, that changes. Josphat is blind in one eye. In the other, he needs a -6 diopter lens. Without it, the world is a blur. With it, he is seeing it for the very first time. Our team watches as he puts on his GoodVision glasses. It’s a moment that reshapes the room. Goosebumps. Silence. Awe. But what Josphat can see is only part of the story. The other part is what he can’t name. Trees, books, shapes - these things never had labels, because he had never seen them. Now, every glance is a discovery, every object a word waiting to be learned. For Josphat, vision is more than clarity - it’s the beginning of language, of learning, of possibility. And for us, it’s a reminder: when you give a child sight, you don’t just open their eyes. You open their world.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "josphat","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7205/attachments/original/1755180525/Josphat_Charo_GV_Kenya_GoodVision_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755180525"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 16:16:00 +0100","title": "Christine","headline": "Christine","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristIn the heart of Korogocho in Kenya, a young girl’s vision is limited - but her potential no longer has to be. ","story": "Christine Wamboi is 13 years old and growing up in Korogocho, one of Nairobi’s most densely populated informal settlements. Like many children here, she navigates crowded streets, busy schools, and uncertain futures. But Christine does so with only one working eye. She lives with amblyopia, a condition that leaves her right eye nearly blind - something no pair of glasses can fix. Still, she came to GoodVision’s eye camp at the Aiyera Center in 2022, hoping for a way forward. And there was one. With a simple pair of GoodVision glasses, Christine’s left eye - her stronger eye - was sharpened to 80% clarity. It wasn’t a cure. But it was access. It was empowerment. When she left the camp, hand in hand with her mother, she didn’t just leave with glasses. She left with a clearer path to participate in school, to read, to learn, to lead. In places like Korogocho, perfect solutions are rare. But partial vision can still lead to full futures - when paired with support, opportunity, and a belief that every child deserves a chance to see what matters.In the heart of Korogocho in Kenya, a young girl’s vision is limited - but her potential no longer has to be. ","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "christine","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7206/attachments/original/1755180614/Christine_Wamboi_GV_Kenya_GoodVision_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755180614"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 15:21:00 +0100","title": "Issaf - Every story counts","headline": "Issaf","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristA retired chauffeur in Burkina Faso regains his freedom of movement - and dignity - through a simple pair of glasses.","story": "Issaf Traoré spent decades navigating the streets of Ouagadougou as a professional chauffeur, his vision sharp behind prescription lenses. But when he retired, and his glasses wore out, he couldn’t afford to replace them. At 60, he found himself confined to the blurry outlines of a once-familiar city. For five years, Issaf stayed close to home, relying on memory more than sight to move through the world. Then, one day, he noticed a small office on his street - GoodVision. There, he received new glasses made by trained local technicians. In just one visit, the streets he once drove with confidence came back into focus. Now, Issaf walks independently through Ouagadougou again. Every time he passes the GoodVision office, the team lights up - because they know what he’s regained isn’t just vision, but agency. In a world where aging and poverty often shrink horizons, a pair of glasses restored his ability to move freely - and reminded us that clarity is a form of freedom.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "issaf","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7207/attachments/original/1755181413/Issaf_Traore_GV_Burkina_Faso_Abdoul_Sawadogo_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755181413"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:31:00 +0100","title": "Chandramaya - Every story counts","headline": "Chandramaya","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristIn a remote Nepalese mountain village, 75-year-old Ratna and his wife Chandramaya find new hope as GoodVision’s eye camp brings much-needed glasses and care right to their doorstep.","story": "Ratna Suwal is 75 years old, and his wife Chandramaya is 70. They have been married for 45 years. Their home is an old village house in the municipality of Roshi in the Nepalese Mountains. The couple live in seclusion with just one goat - they had to sell their buffalo three months ago because it had become too difficult for him to cut the grass. When GoodVision offered an eye camp in her remote mountain village, Chandramaya was very happy because she knew her eyesight had worsened over the years. A pair of reading glasses now helps her greatly in her daily life. She would never have undertaken the long journey to the city for this. That’s why it is especially important that eye screenings are provided in places where help rarely arrives.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "chandramaya","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7208/attachments/original/1755185670/Ratna_Suwal_GV_Nepal_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755185670"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:35:00 +0100","title": "Maili - Every story counts","headline": "Maili","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristLiving alone in a remote, earthquake-rebuilt Nepalese village, Maili relies on local farming and family support - and is grateful that GoodVision brings eye care directly to her doorstep.","story": "Maili Nakarmi lives in the Nepalese mountain village of Lurpung, which was hit by the severe earthquake in Nepal in 2015. Many buildings were destroyed; the infrastructure was severely damaged and many houses in her village were also destroyed. The village was rebuilt with the help of German aid organizations, among others. Since the death of her husband three years ago, Maili has been living alone. She lives from a cow, four goats and some farming. It's not much, but enough to make ends meet - also because her two sons, who live in the city, also support their mother. The fact that help like that from GoodVision comes directly to the village is essential for women like Maili, because as a single woman she would have left her animals to have her eyes examined in the city.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "maili","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7209/attachments/original/1755185861/Maili_Nakarmi_GV_Nepal_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755185861"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 16:15:00 +0100","title": "Panchmay - Every story counts","headline": "Panchmay","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristPanchmay Damai traveled a long way and patiently waited for an eye test at a GoodVision camp, grateful for affordable glasses thanks to local support in remote Nepal.","story": "Panchmay Damai walked a long way to get to our eye camp. The 70-year-old knew that she needed glasses and waited patiently until the evening for her eye test. She also brought some money with her, as an advertising poster had already indicated in advance that the glasses cost something. An important point, because just getting money from home is not an option at these distances. The fact that the pilot camps worked so well in this respect is also thanks to the active support of the Nepalese staff.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "panchmay","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7210/attachments/original/1755185993/Panchmay_Damai_GV_Nepal_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755185993"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:40:00 +0100","title": "Samya - Every story counts","headline": "Samya","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristTwo sisters from remote Nepal, aged 74 and 65, receive their first-ever eye test and glasses at a GoodVision camp - bringing clarity and joy to their lives where eye care is otherwise unreachable.","story": "Samya Thada (left) is 74 years old, her sister Indramaya Thada 65. Both are having an eye test for the first time in their lives and both need reading glasses. They live in a remote mountainous region in eastern Nepal - where there are no spectacle stores and certainly no eye clinics. Together they have walked a long way to get to our eye camp. Now they are happy about their first pair of glasses.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "samya","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7211/attachments/original/1755186112/Samya_Thada_GV_Nepal__Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755186112"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:42:00 +0100","title": "Sahil - Every story counts","headline": "Sahil","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristFrom unseen struggle to bright future: How a school eye camp helped 10-year-old Sahil See","story": "Sahil Sethy is 10 years old and lives with his family in the slums of Bhubaneswar. His father irons clothes and his mother works as a domestic help. Due to an accident in his early childhood, Sahil has a severe visual impairment in his left eye. However, nobody noticed this as he was never examined. At elementary school, his parents noticed that their son held his head askew when reading and only looked with one eye, but neither they nor the teacher did anything about it. When GoodVision conducted an eye camp at Sahil's school, his condition was identified. He received an eye examination for the first time. Shortly afterwards, he was operated in one of GoodVision’s partner hospitals. The young boy is now attending a free vision school for support and the prognosis is positive: the 10-year-old will probably soon be able to see normally again with additional glasses. We are delighted that through our school camps we can help children like Sahil, who still has many years of life and learning ahead of her, to regain full sight.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "sahil","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7212/attachments/original/1755186228/Sahil_Sethy2_GV_India_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755186228"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:44:00 +0100","title": "Pradeep - Every story counts","headline": "Pradeep","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristAfter a severe eye injury left coal worker Pradeep blind in one eye, free cataract surgery restored his sight and gave him a new lease on life in remote Jharkhand.","story": "Pradeep Bhuiya, 32 years old and a laborer in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand, is one of the many coal workers in the region. Some time ago, Bhuiya suffered a serious injury to his left eye at work. With no funds for treatment and no access to medical care in the remote area, his eyesight progressively deteriorated until he finally went completely blind in the affected eye. The cause was a traumatic cataract that developed because of the injury. Thanks to an eye camp organized by GoodVision, who collaborates with several eye clinics in this region, he was able to receive a free cataract surgery, which he gratefully accepted. Today, his sight has been fully restored.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "pradeep","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7213/attachments/original/1755186340/Pradeep_Bhuiya_GV_India_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755186340"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:46:00 +0100","title": "Surendra - Every story counts","headline": "Surendra","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristSmall stall, big difference: How glasses made Surendra’s work easier","story": "Surendra Sethi is 66 years old and lives in the village of Bira Pratapur in the state of Odisha in India. Surendra runs a small coconut stall on the side of the road where he sells around 50 coconuts a day and earns between 400 and 500 rupees. He uses this income to support himself and his wife. Recently, Surendra has had increasing difficulty seeing up close - especially when counting money or reading. Thanks to a rural eye camp organized by GoodVision, he received a pair of glasses. Since then, his work has become much easier, and Surendra no longer gets confused with the change.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "surendra","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7214/attachments/original/1755254429/Surendra_Sethi_GV-India_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE..png?1755254429"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:47:00 +0100","title": "Radhiya - Every story counts","headline": "Radhiya","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristIn the coalfields of Jharkhand, 35-year-old Radhiya faces long, dangerous days - now made safer and easier thanks to a simple pair of glasses that help her see clearly again.","story": "Radhiya Devi is 35 years old and lives in Dhanbad, a town in the middle of the Jharkhand coalfield. The people here only know hard work in the mines. Radhiya collects coal every day, a tedious and dangerous job. The young woman had long had great difficulty seeing, especially in the dark. Walking home after a long day at work became a daily challenge. After she had her eyes tested at an eye camp organized by GoodVision she bought a pair of glasses. They make her life so much easier and safer, says Radhiya.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "radhiya","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7215/attachments/original/1755186536/Radhiya_Devi_GV-India_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755186536"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:49:00 +0100","title": "Ruben - Every story counts","headline": "Ruben","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristAt 86, Don Ruben lives alone in a remote mountain village, sustained by the support of his children - grateful that eye care finally reached him when his vision began to fade.","story": "Don Ruben waits patiently, perhaps because no one is waiting for him at home, as the 86-year-old lives alone in the mountain village of Turtur in the department of Boyacá. His 10 children and many grandchildren have been working in different places in Colombia for a long time. There is a huge rural exodus in Colombia, with over 80% of the country's 51 million inhabitants living in cities. Although Don Ruben now lives alone in the mountains, he is proud of all his children. They support his father and grandfather with a little money every month and so he manages to make ends meet. Only his eyes, he complains, are no longer keeping up. But of course, the GoodVision team has a solution for that!","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "ruben","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7216/attachments/original/1755186652/Don_Ruben_GV_Colombia_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755186652"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:51:00 +0100","title": "Cecilia - Every story counts","headline": "Cecilia","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristTwo hours down the mountain but clear vision was worth the journey","story": "Cecilia Diaz lives in the hills of the small Bolivian town of Quípima in the Boyacá region. All around her is an idyllic landscape. What is planted here seems to grow by itself: bananas, mangoes and several varieties of cocoa. So, the 49-year-old has her hands full: she cooks, takes care of the garden and looks after a few animals. She has raised four children of her own and two nephews, all of whom have now left home. To get to the eye camp run by our project partner GoodVision, she had to walk two hours down the mountain. But, she says, it was worth it, because the glasses now help her with all her everyday activities and she would have had to make a two-day trip to visit the optician.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "cecilia","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7217/attachments/original/1755186752/Cecilia_Diaz_GV_Colombia_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755186752"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:53:00 +0100","title": "Edwin - Every story counts","headline": "Edwin","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristIn the harsh Bolivian highlands near Sucre, single mother Bonita works hard to support her family - grateful that GoodVision provides her son with free glasses she could never afford herself.","story": "This is what Bonita says, the mother of 9-year-old Edwin, who goes to school in Qhora Qhora near Sucre. The young woman is a single mother and has another small child. Together with them, she lives with her mother and an uncle. In the city, Bonita earns some money selling chicken, but this is usually not enough for all to survive. The Grandma herds sheep and bakes bread in a clay oven she built herself. Many families in the area around Sucre live like this. Work is a scarce commodity here, the climate at 3,000 meters is harsh, as it gets bitterly cold at night and the sun burns the skin during the day. For the young mother, it is fortunate that the school costs nothing and that GoodVision provides children with glasses free of charge.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "edwin","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7218/attachments/original/1755186874/EDWIN_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755186874"}, {"date": "2025-08-14 16:54:00 +0100","title": "Emiliana - Every story counts","headline": "Emiliana","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristAfter a lifetime of caring for children, school janitor Emiliana receives her first eye test - finally getting help for the vision problems she could no longer ignore.","story": "Emiliana Cabrera has always been surrounded by children. She raised 10 of her own and when they left home, she took a job as a janitor at the school in Qhora Qhora, a village at 3,000 meters above sea level near the city of Sucre in Bolivia. There, she unlocks the doors in the mornings, cleans the classrooms, sells sweets and sometimes also some home-cooked food. When GoodVision examines all the children for two days, the 53-year-old also wants an eye test because she complains of pain in one eye. The team is able to help her with reading glasses in the short term, but advises Emiliana to visit an eye clinic again soon.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "emiliana","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7219/attachments/original/1755186962/Emiliana_Cabrera_GV_Bolivia_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.JPG?1755186962"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 16:15:00 +0100","title": "Adison Marianna - Every story counts","headline": "Adison Marianna","content": "Organisation: GoodVision Location: Germany Photographer: Antje ChristAt a GoodVision eye camp in Bolivia, 6-year-old Adison receives her first glasses - bringing joy to both her and her mother, who couldn’t afford vision care on her own.","story": "There's no mistaking it: The glasses bring double the joy - for mother and daughter! 6-year-old Adison Marianna Lezardas comes to the eye camp because she has difficulty reading from the blackboard at school. And that's right: during the eye test, the team from GoodVision found that both of her eyes were short-sighted and the first grader needed glasses. It is a huge help to her mother that the NGO provides glasses for children worldwide free of charge, as she would never have been able to afford glasses from an optician. Adison is also thrilled with her first pair of glasses and doesn't want to take them off, not even when playing soccer with her brother. And now at school, Adison can read everything from the blackboard without any difficulties.","location": "Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","organisation": "GoodVision
Location: Germany
Photographer: Antje Christ","photographer": "Antje Christ","url": "adison_marianna","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7220/attachments/original/1755187053/Adison_Marianna_Lezardas_GV_Bolivia_Antje_Christ_MAIN_IMAGE.JPG?1755187053"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 11:18:00 +0100","title": "Ubaldina - Every story counts","headline": "Ubaldina","content": "Organisation: Eyes of the world Foundation Location: SpainMrs. Ubaldina could hardly see, but today she greets us from afar. She overcame her fear of surgery and, thanks to Eyes of the world, she recovered her sight. Now she sells empanadas with her daughter. Seeing again has allowed her to dream of a better future.","story": "We helped someone who, due to the loss of her vision, couldn’t see even a palm’s length away, now greet us from 20 meters away. Mrs. Ubaldina, affected by diabetes, lost her sight due to cataracts. At first, she resisted the idea of surgery, but over time, with the support of those around her, she decided to take the courageous step that would transform her life.Two years later, thanks to the Eyes of the World Foundation, Mrs. Ubaldina underwent successful surgery that restored her vision, but more importantly, it restored her hope. With her sight regained, she decided to start a business selling empanadas. She prepares them with dedication, while her daughter fries them, as Mrs. Ubaldina is afraid to get too close to the fire for fear it could affect her vision.This is an example of how support can change a life. Thanks to the surgery and her courage, Mrs. Ubaldina has regained not only her ability to see but also the dream of having a better future for herself and her family.","location": "Spain","organisation": "Eyes of the world Foundation","photographer": "","url": "ubaldina","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7222/attachments/original/1755253245/Sra._Ubaldina_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755253245"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 11:22:00 +0100","title": "Fatama - Every story counts","headline": "Fatama","content": "Organisation: Eyes of the World Foundation Location: Spain Fatama endured years of pain, dizziness, and vision loss, ignoring symptoms until they became unbearable. Diagnosed with cataracts, she received surgery thanks to Eyes of the world. Today, she has regained sight in one eye—along with her autonomy, joy, and will to live. Her life has changed completely.","story": "Two years ago, Fatama's life began to darken. Her vision gradually became blurry, accompanied by intense headaches and dizziness that seemed endless. At first, she tried to ignore it, holding onto the hope that everything would improve over time. But the pain became unbearable, and the loss of vision prevented her from moving forward.It was then that she decided to seek help. At the ophthalmology center of Bachir Saleh Hospital, they conducted several tests and discovered the cause of her suffering: cataracts. The only solution was surgery in Bechar.Thanks to the support of the Eyes of the world foundation, Fatama was able to undergo surgery. One of her eyes healed completely, restoring her vision. In the other, glaucoma prevents her from seeing with total clarity, but still, her world has changed.Fatama was able to see the faces of her loved ones again, the blue sky, and the landscapes she thought she had lost. She regained her independence and, with it, the joy of living.","location": "Spain
","organisation": "Eyes of the World Foundation
Location: Spain
","photographer": "","url": "fatama","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7223/attachments/original/1755253528/Fatama_Mohamed_Lamin_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755253528"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 11:26:00 +0100","title": "Lorrayne - Every story counts","headline": "Lorrayne","content": "Organisation: Renovatio Location: Brazil Renovatio is taking ophthalmology to the most remote and vulnerable places in Brazil With vehicles adapted into mobile eye clinics. Vertr Institute works together Renovatio.Renovatio's story is evidence that every initiative can transform realities. Every consultation counts, every pair of eyeglasses donated counts, every story counts.","story": "Anyone who sees Lorrayne’s wide smile cannot imagine the difficult life she had because of strabismus until she was 30. As a child, she faced a lot of bullying and hurtful nicknames filled with prejudice. In her youth, she was often asked uncomfortable questions like, “Where are you looking?” Lorrayne suffered, but there was nothing she could do. She wore an eye patch until she was 8, but it didn’t bring satisfactory results. She needed surgery but couldn’t afford the R$ 10,000 cost.She consulted doctors during her teenage years, but the procedure she needed was considered cosmetic, and public health insurance didn’t cover it. She cried because of bullying, and her mother would always go to school to complain, but it was in vain.The situation changed when Lorrayne discovered the Verter Institute, which made her surgery possible for free. The tears she shed after removing the bandages revealed the depth of her emotion after so long searching for a solution. She stopped wearing the dark-tinted glasses she used to hide her strabismus, stopped taking photos looking down, saw her self-esteem soar, and eventually became a volunteer at Verter, helping others who, like her, need free treatment.","location": "Brazil
","organisation": "Renovatio
Location: Brazil
","photographer": "","url": "lorrayne","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7224/attachments/original/1755253685/Lorrayne_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1755253685"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 11:30:00 +0100","title": "Stephanie - Every story counts","headline": "Stephanie","content": "Organisation: Suel Abujamra Institute Location: Brazil In addition to the care in São Paulo, the Suel Abujamra Institute conducts philanthropic actions throughout Brazil, expanding access to eyecare for thousands who face difficulties in obtaining treatment.We believe that every story counts. The Institute has been dedicated to changing lives through vision over for 45 years.","story": "Stephanie was only six months old when her mother, Irene, discovered that she could barely see. From that point on, it became a fierce battle to give her daughter the “blessing” of sight. As a cleaning assistant, Irene went from doctor to doctor in search of a solution for the congenital cataract that clouded her daughter’s eyes. She tried in Teresina (PI), Fortaleza, and São Paulo. She couldn’t afford the surgery. That´s when the Suel Abujamra Institute crossed Sthefany’s path. “Thanks to God and the institute, to get my daughter’s surgery for free, and today she is studying and dreaming of getting a good job and a better life,” says Irene. Sthefany had surgery at 13 and is now 17, attending the 8th grade of elementary school. The first years at school were difficult. “She couldn’t keep up with her classmates and became depressed, staying in her room because she suffered a lot of bullying,” recalls her mother. The condition is genetic and has already affected three people in the father’s family. Now, Stephanie will receive free treatment for her strabismus. Irene has already scheduled pre-operative exams at the Suel Abujamra hospital.","location": "Brazil

","organisation": "Suel Abujamra Institute
Location: Brazil

","photographer": "","url": "stephanie2","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7225/attachments/original/1755253907/Stephanie_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1755253907"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 11:34:00 +0100","title": "Aldeia em Foco - Every story counts","headline": "Aldeia em Foco","content": "Organisation: Suel Abujamra Institute Location: BrazilIn addition to the care in São Paulo, the Suel Abujamra Institute conducts philanthropic actions throughout Brazil, expanding access to eyecare for thousands who face difficulties in obtaining treatment.We believe that every story counts. Over four decades, the Institute has been dedicated to changing lives through vision.","story": "Aldeia em Foco is a non-profit born from attentive listening and transformative action in response to the challenges indigenous populations face in accessing eye care in Brazil.Its origins trace back to an initiative by the Suel Abujamra Institute (ISA), a traditional partner of the SUS, which aimed to provide ophthalmological care to over 1,500 indigenous people in a remote community in the country’s interior. However, due to logistical limitations and difficult access to the region, the mission concluded frustratingly: only just over 300 indigenous people were treated.Caio Abujamra, ISA's president understood that a solution rooted in the reality of indigenous peoples required closer listening, an adapted methodology and a structure designed to bring health to the heart of the forest.Thus, Aldeia em Foco was born initially a pioneering project within ISA, it is now an independent NGO with its own identity and transformative mission. Co-financed by ISA, BID LAB in partnership with the Government of Japan, and the L'Occitane Foundation, the project uses cutting-edge portable equipment, AI and teleophthalmology to provide quality eye care to Brazil’s most isolated regions.More than a project is a movement of respect, reparation, and hope for the future.","location": "Brazil","organisation": "Suel Abujamra Institute
Location: Brazil","photographer": "","url": "aldeia_em_foco","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7226/attachments/original/1755254119/ALDEIA_EM_FOCO_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1755254119"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 12:21:00 +0100","title": "Mamite - Every story counts","headline": "Mamite","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: EthiopiaFree surgery at a Cure Blindness Project-supported outreach in Ethiopia restored sight to a mother and her daughter. \"She couldn't smile within these two years (when her daughter was bilaterally blind),\" Mamite exclaims, her own face radiant with happiness. \"Now she is smiling! Thanks God and all the doctors here. We both can see now!\" ","story": "Mamite Tukuli, 45, sought out eye care to restore her daughter’s sight. Kortu, 10, lost her vision in both eyes to cataracts. Mamite also suffered from cataract blindness. “I wasn't worried about my own eye,\" she confessed, \"At least I could see with one. But I worried constantly about my little girl.\" In a household where Mamite's husband had multiple wives and over twenty children, resources and attention were stretched thin. Mamite felt helpless, watching her daughter's future slip away. Kortu, too young to attend school, relied on her siblings for even the simplest tasks, often stumbling and falling in darkness. One day, hope arrived in the form of a passing car speaker announcing free treatment, including transportation, accommodation, and food. \"I was so sad about my daughter's future. She hadn't started school; she couldn't do anything by herself. Her sisters and brothers helped her go to the toilet, and she fell on the ground so many times. We were all so sad, and we didn't know what to do.\" Free surgery at a Cure Blindness Project-supported outreach restored sight to both mother and daughter. \"She couldn't smile within these two years,\" Mamite exclaimed, her own face radiant with happiness. \"Now she is smiling! Thanks God and all the doctors here. We both can see now!\" ","location": "Ethiopia","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project
Location: Ethiopia","photographer": "","url": "mamite","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7227/attachments/original/1755256987/Ethiopia_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755256987"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 12:24:00 +0100","title": "Sushil - Every story counts","headline": "Sushil","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: India<div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @[37rem]:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @[72rem]:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"><div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:32rem] @[34rem]:[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @[64rem]:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"><div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"><div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+&]:mt-5\"><div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\"><div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\">Sushil Kumar Sen, 47, a driver from rural Odisha, lost his livelihood when cataracts clouded his vision. A free eye camp by Trilochan Netralaya, supported by Cure Blindness Project, restored his sight through two surgeries. Now, back behind the wheel, he works with renewed pride and gratitude.</div></div></div></div><div class=\"flex min-h-[46px] justify-start\"></div><div class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden\"><div class=\"text-center\"></div></div></div></div>","story": "Sushil Kumar Sen, 47, is a driver from a rural district in Odisha, India. Life was simple and steady with his wife and children — until cataracts blurred his vision and forced him off the road. Unable to work, he relied on his wife for everything, and the loss of independence left him feeling helpless. Then he heard about a free eye screening camp run by Trilochan Netralaya, a state-of-the-art institute committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate eye care. Holding on to hope, Sushil went. Staff identified him with mature cataracts in both eyes — and told him his vision could be restored through surgery, entirely free of cost. Cure Blindness Project works with Trilochan Netralaya and partners like them to offset surgery costs to expand access to care for those who need it most. The next day, he underwent his first surgery. When the bandage came off, Sushil could see again. Fifteen days later, he returned for the second surgery — and with it, the rest of his world came back into focus. Today, he’s back behind the wheel, working again, and living with pride and deep gratitude. ","location": "India","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project
Location: India","photographer": "","url": "sushil","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7228/attachments/original/1755257169/SUSHIL_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755257169"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 12:26:00 +0100","title": "Kasturi - Every story counts","headline": "Kasturi","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: IndiaKasturi Bishi, 64, a blacksmith from rural Odisha, lost her sight to cataracts, halting her livelihood. A free eye camp by Trilochan Netralaya, supported by Cure Blindness Project, offered surgery at no cost. Restored vision brought her back to work—and back to life—with renewed joy and gratitude.","story": "Kasturi Bishi, 64, lives with her husband in a small village in Odisha, India. The couple worked as blacksmiths, making and selling iron tools to earn a simple living. Their routine fell apart when Kasturi began losing her vision to cataracts. She couldn’t work, and her husband stayed home to care for her. With no income, treatment felt impossible. Hope came when they heard about a free eye screening camp supported by Trilochan Netralaya and Cure Blindness Project. There, she was identified with mature cataracts in both eyes and referred to Trilochan Netralaya for surgery. With quiet courage, Kasturi underwent the procedure—free of cost, with support from Cure Blindness Project. Today, she can see clearly again. She’s back to work, back on her feet, and filled with joy and gratitude.","location": "India","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project
Location: India","photographer": "","url": "kasturi","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7229/attachments/original/1755257333/KASTURI_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755257333"}, {"date": "2025-09-08 11:04:00 +0100","title": "Paul - Every story counts","headline": "Paul","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: Kenya “The doctors will fix you. There is nothing to be afraid of. Tomorrow when we can see again, we dance.” At Cure Blindness Project, there is often dancing. And a little singing. Here, patients celebrate together with staff members joining in after bandages are removed following a free cataract surgery. It’s difficult not to dance when joy fills the room.","story": "Stoic and silent, Paul, 90, sits in the van en route to City Eye Hospital. He’s scheduled for free sight-restoring surgery supported by Cure Blindness Project. It’d been three years since he’d been able to see his children’s faces. He desperately wants the surgery but he is afraid. If anyone understands the fear and isolation of being blind, it’s Stevenson. He’d been unable to see until recently. City Eye Hospital in Nyeri, Kenya performed cataract surgery on his left eye. He is returning to the hospital to have his right eye corrected. “Since I was helped, I want to help others,” explains Stevenson, 82. Stevenson assigns himself in charge of Paul’s care: holding his hand and leading him to the pre-op testing stations, sitting beside him as they wait. Stevenson enters the operating theater first. Twenty minutes later he’s done. Paul waits patiently for his turn. “The doctors will fix you,” Stevenson says, gently patting Paul’s back. “There is nothing to be afraid of. Tomorrow when we can see again, we dance.” As promised, there is dancing. And a little singing. The two celebrate together and staff members join in. It’s difficult not to dance when joy fills the room. ","location": "Kenya

","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project
Location: Kenya

","photographer": "","url": "paul","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7230/attachments/original/1755257589/PAUL_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755257589"}, {"date": "2025-08-20 14:05:00 +0100","title": "Stephanie - Every story counts","headline": "Stephanie","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: Tanzania\"The joy was overwhelming. Not just because I could see again, but because I knew I wouldn't be a burden to my children anymore. Their sacrifices and unwavering support had brought me back into the light.\"Tanzanian farmer Stephanie Kaloto received sight-restoring cataract surgery at an outreach supported by Cure Blindness Project in partnership with Helen Keller, Intl. ","story": "“At 65 years old, [my] life in Mbeya Region has always been about the land and the rhythms of farming. My husband and I tended our fields together, until he left and the shadows began creeping into my world. It started with a slight blurring of my vision, almost like looking through fog. At first, I thought it was a joke—a temporary nuisance that would fade with time. But days turned into weeks, and soon I could barely see the crops I once nurtured. It was then that those around me said I have cataracts.” Farming alone became a daunting task for Stephanie Kaloto. Without sight she could no longer distinguish shapes and every step felt uncertain. Her family learned of a free cataract outreach supported by Cure Blindness Project in partnership with Helen Keller Intl. When doctors removed Stephanie’s bandages, tears streamed down Stephanie’s cheeks. “I may be older now, my energy waning,” Stephanie says, “but every moment is a gift I embrace with newfound appreciation. I feel like a child again, discovering the world afresh.” #helenkellerintl #that_tanzanianguy ","location": "Tanzania","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project
Location: Tanzania","photographer": "","url": "stephaniek","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7231/attachments/original/1755257735/STEPHANIE_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755257735"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 12:36:00 +0100","title": "Dr. Lloyd - Every story counts","headline": "Dr. Lloyd","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: USA“When I first saw it happen, I thought, I can do this for the rest of my life and never feel like I wasted a minute.” Dr. Lloyd Williams, Volunteer Ophthalmologist, Cure Blindness Project Dr. Williams speaks to the feeling of removing a patient’s bandages and watching their face transform from confusion to joy as they realize they can see again. ","story": "Dr. Lloyd Williams changes lives. Motivated by a deep sense of purpose, Dr. Williams travels to places others won’t. A long-time volunteer with Cure Blindness Project, Dr. Williams travels frequently to South Sudan where he provides sight-restoring surgery to those suffering from cataract blindness. Cure Blindness Project began working in South Sudan in 2011. Since then, together with partners Cure Blindness Project has hosted 20 outreached providing sight-restoring surgeries to treat cataracts and trachomatous trichiasis (TT). For many, these outreaches are the only opportunity to receive much needed care. After years of conflict and only a handful of eye care professionals to serve a population of nearly 11 million, most South Sudanese lack adequate access to eye care. Soe data estimates the eastern African country has one ophthalmologist per 2.5 million people. #dukeuniversity #dukeglobalop Chris Hildreth/RoosterMedia | FB: @chris.hildreth.35 | IG: @roostermediaofficial ","location": "USA","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project
Location: USA","photographer": "","url": "dr_llyod","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7232/attachments/original/1755257884/Dr_Llyod_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755257884"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 12:39:00 +0100","title": "Dr. Geoff - Every story counts","headline": "Dr. Geoff","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: USAEach year, Cure Blindness Project sponsors one ophthalmology resident for a global medicine fellowship with Stanford’s Byers Eye Institute. Spending most of the year in Asia and Africa with Dr. Geoff Tabin, fellows shift focus from personal training to serving others—building skills, forging collaborations, and creating lasting global impact.","story": "Each year, one exceptional ophthalmology resident is invited to complete a one-year post-graduate clinical training subspecialty in global medicine sponsored by Cure Blindness Project. The fellowship in partnership with the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford exposes young surgeons to challenges most likely not previously encountered in the United States. Selected participants spend two-thirds of the year working in Asia and Africa alongside Stanford Professor and Cure Blindness Project co-founder, Dr. Geoff Tabin. “An interesting phenomenon occurs when you start a global ophthalmology fellowship. While the focus of the trainee in all other realms is primarily, almost solely, on the quality of their training, in global ophthalmology the focus shifts to what the trainee will do for others—global partners, residents abroad, and others,” says Dr. Sean Collon, who recently completed his global fellowship. The fellowship exposes and encourages residents to pursue uncharted paths and establish new collaborations for maximum unique impact. #helenkellerintl #that_tanzanianguy #stanford ","location": "USA","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project
Location: USA","photographer": "","url": "dr_geoff","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7233/attachments/original/1755258051/Dr.Geoff_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1755258051"}, {"date": "2025-09-08 11:42:00 +0100","title": "Somali Eye Care - Every Story Counts","headline": "Somali Eye Care","content": "Organisation: Somali Eye Care Location: SomaliaSomali Eye Care is a non-profit eye care organization based in Somalia. One of our free eye care services is school eye screening.","story": "Somali Eye Care is a non-profit eye care organization based in Somalia. One of our free eye care services is school eye screening.In many Somali schools, children sit in silence, unable to see the board, unable to follow lessons not because they lack intelligence, but because they lack clear vision. Most have never had even a simple eye test.With only the most basic tools a chart and a torch our team enters classrooms and begins to change lives. For a child, a single test can mean the difference between falling behind or finally having the chance to learn with confidence.Even with limited resources, we do our best. Because to us, sight is not a privilege it is hope, dignity, and a child’s future.","location": "Somalia","organisation": "Somali Eye Care
Location: Somalia","photographer": "","url": "somali_eye_care","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7387/attachments/original/1757328306/somali_eye_care_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1757328306"}, {"date": "2025-09-08 12:06:00 +0100","title": "Moses Mwelang'ombe - Every Story Counts","headline": "Moses Mwelang'ombe","content": "Organisation: Charity Vision Location: TanzaniaBesta Kidmon, an 8-year old from Chitego Village, lived with vision loss since birth. After years of unsuccessful treatments, she received cataract surgery through an outreach program. Once forced to leave school, she now smiles with hope. Her story shows how restored sight can transform young lives and families.","story": "At just 8 years old, Besta Kidmon from Chitego Village, Kongwa, Tanzania, has already endured a lifetime of challenges. Born with vision problems in her left eye, her family sought answers for years — from traditional healers to distant hospitals — but found none. Forced to leave school because of her worsening sight, Besta’s future seemed uncertain. Then came a life-changing moment: a local eye outreach program offering surgery. Wrapped in a blanket and beaming with joy just a day after her operation, Besta now faces the world with renewed hope. Her smile says it all — vision restored, dreams reborn. Thanks to the outreach, her mother no longer wonders if help will come. It already has.","location": "Tanzania","organisation": "Charity Vision
","photographer": "","url": "moses","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7420/attachments/original/1757329556/PXL_20240807_053927769.PORTRAIT_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1757329556"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 15:12:38 +0100","title": "Dr.Ana Lucía - Every Story Counts","headline": "Dr.Ana Lucía","content": "Organisation: CBM Location: Guatemala Photographer: Simone UtlerDr. Ana Lucía Asturias was honored with the Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Development Cooperation in Medicine 2024. In her capacity as Senior Physician for Pediatric Ophthalmology for Unidad Nacional de Oftalmología, Guatemala, she received the award in distinguished acknowledgment of her project “Retinopathy of Prematurity in Guatemala”, a programme she developed to prevent premature infants from going blind","story": "Dr. Ana Lucía Asturias was honored with the Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Development Cooperation in Medicine 2024. In her capacity as Senior Physician for Pediatric Ophthalmology for Unidad Nacional de Oftalmología, Guatemala, she received the award in distinguished acknowledgment of her project “Retinopathy of Prematurity in Guatemala”, a programme she developed to prevent premature infants from going blind. The award was endowed with 100,000 euros and is among the most renowned distinctions in the field of development cooperation in medicine. The formal award presentation ceremony was held on October 15th, 2024, at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. The Retinopathy of Maturity programme has been implemented with the support of the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) since 2019. Key mainstays within the programme are the screening and treatment of preterm infants and the active use of telemedicine. “With this year’s award, we are acknowledging an outstanding project in child health. Through straightforward and very effective measures such as extensive screenings, a project that can distinctly improve children’s health” Dr. Jochen Bitzer, responsible for humanitarian funding at EKFS. CBM, a supporter of the programme since 2019, nominated the project for the award. “We are very pleased about this award. With the work they do, Dr. Ana Lucía Asturias and her team contribute substantially toward reducing preventable visual impairments and blindness in children in Guatemala.” Dr. Rainer Brockhaus, CEO, CBM. See documentary here: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuVNXqpxzfU\">Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Development Cooperation in Medicine 2024 - YouTube</a> Read more about the Retinopathy of prematurity project in the CBM Eye Health Annual Report 2024; <a href=\"https://www.cbm.org/dam/jcr:4384e5f7-16c3-475a-8a1c-53fff924dab5/CBM%20Eye%20Health%20Annual%20Report%202024.pdf\">https://www.cbm.org/dam/jcr:4384e5f7-16c3-475a-8a1c-53fff924dab5/CBM%20Eye%20Health%20Annual%20Report%202024.pdf</a> ","location": "Guatemala
Photographer: Simone Utler","organisation": "CBM
","photographer": "Simone Utler","url": "dr_ana_lucia","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7453/attachments/original/1757427113/Dr_Ana_Lucia_Asturias_Copyright_EFKS_Simone_Utler_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1757427113"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 15:19:20 +0100","title": "Festus - Every Story Counts","headline": "Festus","content": "Organisation: Cooper Vision Location: LiberiaA teacher's (Festus) vision for he classroom is clearer now, with the help fo Optometry Giving Sight (OGS).","story": "A teacher's (Festus) vision for he classroom is clearer now, with the help fo Optometry Giving Sight (OGS).Festus lives and works in Liberia. Last year, he received his first-ever pair of glasses after having difficulty reading documents and his students' work. At a school vision program made possible by EYElliance, supported in part by funding from Optometry Giving Sight, he - along with many children - were given the gift of sight. Now Festus can grade papers and prepare lessons more effectively, and the children can properly see to learn.","location": "Liberia","organisation": "Cooper Vision
","photographer": "","url": "festus","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7454/attachments/original/1757427551/Eyelliance_Festis_Photo_2022_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1757427551"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 15:24:00 +0100","title": "Anastazia - Every Story Counts","headline": "Anastazia","content": "Organisation: Cure Blindness Project Location: Tanzania“For 26 years, my world was shrouded in blurriness. I was born in the Mbeya region of Tanzania, and from the very beginning, I was unable to see clearly if at all. I lived in perpetual night, feeling my way through life, relying on my other senses to navigate the world,” says Anastazia. ","story": "“For 26 years, my world was shrouded in blurriness. I was born in the Mbeya region of Tanzania, and from the very beginning, I was unable to see clearly if at all. I lived in perpetual night, feeling my way through life, relying on my other senses to navigate the world,” says Anastazia. While Anastazia knew the weight of her 6-month-old son in her arms, she’d never seen him, due to bilateral cataract blindness. After ophthalmologists removed bandages following a successful surgery, his face came into view. “The joy of seeing my baby was overwhelming, but it was only the beginning. When asked what I most wanted to see next, my answer was immediate: my 7-year-old daughter. I had spent years imagining what she looked like, but now, I would finally get to see her with my own eyes. The thought of seeing her smile, her laughter, and the way she moves filled me with an indescribable excitement.” “The challenges I faced before were immense. Simple tasks like fetching water or cooking were hazardous. I couldn't contribute to my household, which made me feel like I was a burden. But now, with sight, all of that has changed. The surgery has given me a chance to live a life I never once dreamed of.” Since 1995, Cure Blindness Project with partners has restored sight to more than 1.6 million people. The NGO also expands local capacity through training, provides infrastructure and equipment, and establishes prevention programs to stop treatable conditions from progressing to blindness. ","location": "Tanzania","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project
","photographer": "","url": "anastazia","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7455/attachments/original/1757427850/Anastazia-1_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1757427850"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 15:28:08 +0100","title": "Mangal - Every Story Counts","headline": "Mangal","content": "Organisation: Dr Goasain Nepal Eye Hospital Location: NepalMangal Maya Shahi, an elderly woman in her 80s from Kathmandu, she had been blind for seven years due to cataracts complicated by diabetes. After surgery, she experienced the joy of seeing her surroundings, including her daughter-in-law and grandson, for the first time. The family, overwhelmed with gratitude, described the experience as \"a rebirth.\" Mangal Maya regained independence, and her family no longer had to provide constant care.","story": "Mangal Maya Shahi, an elderly woman in her 80s from Kathmandu, she had been blind for seven years due to cataracts complicated by diabetes. After surgery, she experienced the joy of seeing her surroundings, including her daughter-in-law and grandson, for the first time. The family, overwhelmed with gratitude, described the experience as \"a rebirth.\" Mangal Maya regained independence, and her family no longer had to provide constant care.","location": "Nepal","organisation": "Dr Goasain Nepal Eye Hospital
","photographer": "","url": "mangal","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7456/attachments/original/1757428080/DSC_3066_%282%29_MAIN_IMAGE.JPG?1757428080"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 15:31:58 +0100","title": "Kusma - Every Story Counts","headline": "Kusma","content": "Organisation: NNJS Location: NepalKusma used to be a self-reliant man but now relied completely on his wife for even the simplest things. After surgery, for the first time in years, he finally saw the face of his wife. Saying with joy, \"Now, I can do everything myself!\". The burden on his wife had been lifted, and with his eyesight back, he felt as if he had been granted a second life.","story": "In the distant hills of Parbat, Kusma, 76-year-old Laute Damai lived in darkness for years. Cataracts advanced on him slowly, and for the past year, he had been blind. He used to be a self-reliant man but now relied completely on his wife for even the simplest things—eating, mobility, and going to the toilet. His children, whom he had raised with affection, had long left him, never visiting or calling to ask about him. Hope knocked on the door of Laute one day in the shape of an eye camp organized by Himalaya Eye Hospital and Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh. At his wife's insistence, Laute went to the camp, nervous but optimistic. The physicians, after a thorough examination, told him that surgery would restore his eyesight. The operation was successful. The bandages were pulled off the next day, and light shone in his eyes. He blinked, adjusting the light, and for the first time in years, he finally saw the face of his wife—the lady who never abandoned him. Moved to tears, tears welled in his eyes. \"Now, I can do everything myself!\" he exclaimed with joy. The burden on his wife had been lifted, and with his eyesight back, he felt as if he had been granted a second life. Laute returned home, not as a helpless old man, but as an individual who could once more live with dignity. His change from darkness to light was a testament to the power of care and kindness. Video Link: <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EWcBwnHsF/\">https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EWcBwnHsF/</a> ","location": "Nepal","organisation": "NNJS
","photographer": "","url": "kusma","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7457/attachments/original/1757428310/IMG_5885_MAIN_IMAGE.JPG?1757428310"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 10:38:00 +0100","title": "Mattan - Every Story Counts","headline": "Mattan","content": "Organisation: Young Systems Leaders Location: Israel“I started my career in eye health because I saw the vast unmet need and inequities in access to care, and the potential for enormous impact. My goal is to bridge the gap between eye health policy and service delivery in underrepresented areas through research and advocacy. I’m committed to building a future where evidence and equity drive decision-making in eye care.” ","story": "“I started my career in eye health because I saw the vast unmet need and inequities in access to care, and the potential for enormous impact. My goal is to bridge the gap between eye health policy and service delivery in underrepresented areas through research and advocacy. I’m committed to building a future where evidence and equity drive decision-making in eye care.” ","location": "Israel","organisation": "Young Systems Leaders
","photographer": "","url": "mattan","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7458/attachments/original/1757428625/Mattan_Arazi_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1757428625"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 10:43:00 +0100","title": "Fatima - Every Story Counts","headline": "Fatima","content": "Organisation: Young Systems Leaders Location: Pakistan\"I stepped into eye health because, as someone with vision impairment, I don’t just see the challenges—I experience them. My goal is to break down the barriers that hold back underserved communities, especially women, girls, and marginalized groups, from accessing the care and opportunities they deserve. With passion and purpose, I strive to make life easier for others and create a world where equity isn’t just an ideal but a reality for all.\" ","story": "Fatima Zehra is a program management professional with over a decade of experience in eye health, human resource development, and disability-inclusive healthcare. She has been instrumental in strengthening health systems through strategic planning, policy development, and innovative program implementation, ensuring equitable and sustainable healthcare for marginalized communities.She has led high-impact initiatives in collaboration with governments, international NGOs, and healthcare organizations, improving access to quality eye care for millions of people in underserved regions. An optometrist with a Master’s in Project Management, she also holds specialized training in Global Eye Health and Planning and Managing Eye Care Services from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. As a national master trainer for Inclusive Eye Health and Safeguarding in Pakistan, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening the health workforce and promoting disability-inclusive practices.She has contributed to the development of Pakistan’s national allied visual sciences curriculum and an Inclusive Eye Health module. Her expertise in trachoma mapping, service assessments, and participatory evaluations was instrumental in Pakistan being declared trachoma-free by WHO in 2024.Her contributions have earned global recognition, including the Eye Health Hero Award (2020) and the Young Systems Leader Award (2024) from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).","location": "Pakistan","organisation": "Young Systems Leaders
","photographer": "","url": "fatimaz","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7459/attachments/original/1757429025/Fatima_Zehra_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1757429025"}, {"date": "2025-08-22 15:49:00 +0100","title": "Frenky - Every Story Counts","headline": "Frenky","content": "Organisation: Behind the Picture Location: Timor-Leste Photographer: Frenky Ramiro de Jesus Photographer, Frenky, took this picture of a couple from a very rural area in Timor-Leste after Cataract surgery on their both eyes. What I love the most is their smiles when they know that everything was going well, and there is hope for them to see again. ","story": "What is it about this image that you love? It is a picture of a couple from a very rural area in Timor-Leste after Cataract surgery on their both eyes. What I love the most is their smiles when they know that everything was going well, and there is hope for them to see again. Do you remember anything about the subject? For example, were the patients shy to have their pictures taken, funny, curious? From memory, these two are husband and wife. Do you remember anything about them, their bond? Well, actually I was planning to take their picture after the surgery, because it is rare to see a couple together come for operation. It was a little bit funny, because a lady was shy to be hugged by her husband and didn’t want to take photo. We took many photos, but this photo was good in comparison with others.  This couple live in a village far away from the capital. They live alone by themselves in a small house. Once their relative came to visit and found that they couldn’t see. For this purpose, their relative brought them to the eye clinic in the capital for further consultation and treatment.  Do you recall anything about the location on that day? For example, was the hospital busy? What was happening behind the scenes? Eye clinic is the only eyes services available in the country. So, all  of cases come to eye clinic. On that day, there were a lot of patients for consultation. One of the Eyecare nurse in the clinic came to inform me that there was a couple with bilateral hypermature cataract and need for consultation. They came on Friday morning. After the examination and investigation done, I planned for bilateral SICS in one session for both. I explained about the pre-op, intra-op and post-op procedures and also self-care after the operation to the relative. The couple was afraid in the beginning but accepted for operation after a detailed explanation about the benefit after the operation. After their acceptance, I straight plan for the surgery the next Monday. And at the next day, they both were very happy because after years, they can see again.  What about shooting this project did you find interesting? For example, the sheer need for eye care services? It was interesting to shoot this project. At the same time, we used the photo to encourage those people in rural area to come for eye consultation. Because there is still lack of knowledges of people about eye health and many of them still afraid to get operated their cataracts. And I do believe that in the next few years, the quality of the eye health services in Timor-Leste will be better.  ","location": "Timor-Leste
Photographer: Frenky Ramiro de Jesus","organisation": "Behind the Picture
","photographer": "Frenky Ramiro de Jesus","url": "frenky","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7460/attachments/original/1757429382/Frenky_de_Jesus_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1757429382"}, {"date": "2025-08-25 15:54:00 +0100","title": "Graham - Every Story Counts","headline": "Graham","content": "Organisation: Behind the Picture Location: Sierra Leone Photographer: Graham Coates\"I was part of a team conducting school vision screening at various schools within driving distance of our base for 2 weeks at Makeni, in Sierra Leone. On this day we were visiting Mayolor town about 14km away. We screened 274 children and 52 adults on this day, which included most of the teachers. On arrival at each school we would meet with the headmaster and senior teachers and explain our need for suitable buildings to undertake the screening process.\" ","story": "I was part of a team conducting school vision screening at various schools within driving distance of our base for 2 weeks at Makeni, in Sierra Leone. On this day we were visiting Mayolor town about 14km away. We screened 274 children and 52 adults on this day, which included most of the teachers. On arrival at each school we would meet with the headmaster and senior teachers and explain our need for suitable buildings to undertake the screening process. Inevitably this entailed rearranging one or two classrooms to suit our needs. One for carrying out the initial vision and eye health checks and another for performing a sight examination for those referred from the screening process. The image depicts one of the children having his vision checked using an E chart. It is not obvious in the photo but he has covered his left eye with a cupped hand and so we are checking how far down he can correctly identify the tumbling E letter orientation. By pointing his free hand up, down, to the left or right it becomes a very quick and accurate method of confirming an individuals unaided sight. In this case you may notice that some of his classmates have started to laugh. This is because he was the first child in the class to easily get to the bottom line with no effort, and all his friends were amazed at how confident he was.I was volunteering on my 19th eye care project, most of them using my Optometry expertise with the UK charity Vision Aid Overseas. Increasingly I have balanced the Optometry aspects of the trips with taking images to highlight this much needed work. It is great to know that for at least some individuals we have been able to help. Good sight means finishing school, it means seeing well enough to mark homework, to count money at the market, to see your grand children properly. We should all have the right to sight and the means to have it assessed wherever we may live in the world.  ","location": "Sierra Leone
Photographer: Graham Coates","organisation": "Behind the Picture
","photographer": "Graham Coates","url": "graham","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7461/attachments/original/1757429684/Graham_Coates_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1757429684"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 15:58:00 +0100","title": "Mohammad - Every Story Counts","headline": "Mohammad","content": "Organisation: Behind the Picture Location: Kashmir Photographer: Mohammad Omer\"It was a pleasant afternoon, school was full of children of different age groups, screening was in process in one of the classrooms, children standing outside in a line waiting for their turn to come, everyone was coming out of the screening room with a huge smile.  \"","story": "What I love about this image is the hope & happiness that I see through the little girl’s eyes.  It’s not every day that a young girl in a city in Kashmir gets her picture taken to be published on the internet which would potentially have a global reach. When we briefed the students about the photography session, they were actually very excited, a little shy but excited as well.  It was a pleasant afternoon, school was full of children of different age groups, screening was in process in one of the classrooms, children standing outside in a line waiting for their turn to come, everyone was coming out of the screening room with a huge smile.  Most of these underprivileged children do not even get the opportunity to get their eye sights checked and then the opportunity to get the rightly powered eyeglasses. What found me very interested in shooting this project was the fact that there are esteemed individuals & organizations like the Brien Holden Vision Institute working out there to provide such opportunities to these children & their respective families.  ","location": "Kashmir
Photographer: Mohammad Omer","organisation": "Behind the Picture
","photographer": "Mohammad Omer","url": "mohammad","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7462/attachments/original/1757429902/Mohammad_Omer_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1757429902"}, {"date": "2025-08-15 16:04:00 +0100","title": "Neil - Every Story Counts","headline": "Neil","content": "Organisation: Operation Eyesight Location: India Photographer: Neil Oakshot In places where Operation Eyesight operates, having healthy vision in children has immediate societal benefits because the children play an important role in the family and community.  ","story": "Photographer Neil: \"I like the fact that we were shown that classroom…at random…and it was full for students, and from the doorway where I took the photo there was a direct line of sight to her, and I think that not only was she the only one wearing glasses but she was perfectly framed in the classroom for the subsequent photo. We didn’t have to position her, light her or create the composition…it was totally natural. Serendipitous. She had a lovely smile. She looked at us at first as did all the others, and then whilst I fiddled with the camera and took some test shots everyone just carried on listening to the teacher and then when we were ready I just waved at her and smiled and she smiled back…and then I took the photo. Again, she was totally natural and seemed very mature.  We had just come from a large eye clinic and brought to the school just to get see if we could get some shots. Our goal was to find some students and choreograph a shot with them, ask them some questions etc. It was a large school and we arrived 10 minutes before their break…lunch I think…so in fact the only thing we achieved with the visit was this scene. No children were being screened at the time…I think it was a “let’s see what we find” kind of location. I was there with a couple of representatives from Operation Eyesight, and my cameraman colleague, Miguel Gutierrez, and we both had cameras. We met someone from the school who looked into a couple of classrooms and let us in. We had about 5 minutes before the bell went off for lunch so we just looked in the first classroom, stood close to the doorway and this is what we got.  For this project we filmed in Kenya and India. We filmed the young and the old…the most vulnerable groups of course. I was particularly struck by the important role that children have in educating and supporting their families. In countries like Canada we tend to consider healthy eyesight as primarily a benefit to the recipient only….”you need glasses”…so I ensure my children have can study properly and enjoy life like everyone else.  But in places where Operation Eyesight operates, having healthy vision in children has immediate societal benefits because the children play an important role in the family and community.  They work around the house, in the yard, they feed the animals or help out in the fields. They go for food, and they care for the elders in multi-generational households. In Kenya, where trachoma is a big problem, the children learn about clean water and they go home and educate THEIR parents on the importance of clean water. The young are literally the teachers. So the community-led initiatives that we filmed, and the “hand-up, not hand-out’ approach of organizations like Operation Eyesight was extraordinary to film. These are huge community efforts (and communal living in these countries involves far more inter-dependence then here), and there was genuine pride at all levels when a cataract operation succeeded, or when a child got glasses. Because now these people were no longer burdens that needed constant help. They could now contribute. It’s literally a 100% reversal in fortune for the the person, their families and the community. \"","location": "India
Photographer: Neil Oakshot

","organisation": "Operation Eyesight
Location: India
Photographer: Neil Oakshot

","photographer": "Neil Oakshot

","url": "neil","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7463/attachments/original/1757430270/Neil_Oakshott_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1757430270"}, {"date": "2025-09-09 09:08:00 +0100","title": "Zon - Every Story Counts","headline": "Zon","content": "Behind the Picture Location: Malaysia Photographer: Zon Hisham Zainal Abidin The image is of a loving mother who is visually impaired and her son who appeared to glance/look into the uncertainties of his future, hoping for the best there is. ","story": "As the title suggests, the story is about a loving mother who is visually impaired and her son who appeared to glance/look into the uncertainties of his future, hoping for the best there is. This mother and child belong to the Jahai community (indigenous people) who live in the Royal Belum Rainforest Reserve, Malaysia. Most if not all are shy, especially when requested to pose in front of the camera. It was the 2nd day of our trip to Royal Belum to capture some portraits and their lifestyle. The mother and child pair were sitting close when I made a request for their photo to be taken. Her command of language was minimal but enough to make us understand each other. The village chief was also present and that helped a lot. Only then that I knew about her predicament. Most of the aid given to the Jahai community were in the form of food, clothing and general health screening. It came to my knowledge that there need to be more and specific eye/vision health screening among the folks in the community. I bet there are many children who have visual problems in their classes. ","location": "Malaysia
Photographer: Zon Hisham Zainal Abidin","organisation": "","photographer": "Zon Hisham Zainal Abidin","url": "zon","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7464/attachments/original/1757430530/Zon_Hisham_Bin_Zainal_Abidin_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1757430530"}, {"date": "2025-09-16 17:39:00 +0100","title": "Aleydis Vera - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Aleydis Vera","content": "Organisation: Fundación Vision Location: Paraguay Photographer: Marcos MenaEach patient who regains sight is a source of joy and a reminder of her mission: restoring dignity, hope, and opportunity through vision.","story": "Paraguay, known as the heart of South America, is home to about 6,417,076 inhabitants. Despite progress, not everyone can access health services when needed. In eye health, the gap is striking: an estimated 20,000 people in the country are blind due to cataracts, a condition that could be prevented or treated. In this context, Aleydis Vera, Head of Community Health at Fundación Visión, leads a mobile clinic that travels to the most remote areas of Paraguay. Together with her team, she brings ophthalmological consultations, screenings, and referrals, so people do not have to travel to the capital. From Asunción, she coordinates operations aimed at detecting cataract blindness in rural and vulnerable populations, organizing surgical days within the communities themselves, and ensuring that treatment is not hindered by economic or geographic barriers.These initiatives are possible thanks to collaboration with local, national, and international partners, who support surgical campaigns and sustained logistics with a focus on equity. For over 18 years, Aleydis has dedicated her life to providing visual health to underserved communities.","location": "Paraguay
Photographer: Marcos Mena","organisation": "Fundación Vision
Location: Paraguay
Photographer: Marcos Mena","photographer": "Marcos Mena","url": "aleydis_vera","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7717/attachments/original/1758040749/Aleydis_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1758040749"}, {"date": "2025-09-16 19:29:35 +0100","title": "Muhammad Hassan - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Muhammad Hassan Rasheed","content": "Location: Pakistan Born with severe vision loss, I lost my right eye, fought glaucoma in my left, adapted with tech and determination, and built a life and career in video editing, web development, and AI calling agents, supported by family and mentors — a story of resilience, independence, and forward momentum.","story": "A few months old, my family noticed something was wrong: around five months, I didn’t see like others and bumped furniture. Specialists diagnosed my right eye blind; my left eye had limited vision. In 2006, at age four, glaucoma forced emergency surgery; my sight weakened, but remained. In 2013, my right retina detached; having no sight it went unnoticed until pain forced removal and replacement with an artificial eye. In 2021–22, darkness fell on my left eye; doctors warned that rising pressure could cost my remaining sight. I began medication, and my vision stabilised and remains stable. Growing up with low vision was hard—daily tasks and travel often needed help—so I adapted to stay independent: I ordered online and learned to manage. Stories of blind achievers inspired me. My mother was my biggest strength; my brothers and wife supported me always. Friends like Yousaf Saleem and mentor Azam Meghani from GIVE 4 NEEDY encouraged me. My right eye is artificial, and my left eye has very limited sight. I provide video editing, web development and AI calling-agent services using a screen reader. I’m growing professionally and eager to connect. This is my story of vision loss, resilience, adaptation, and determination to keep moving forward","location": "Pakistan
","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "muhammad_hassan","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7718/attachments/original/1758047303/MHR_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1758047303"}, {"date": "2025-09-16 19:35:00 +0100","title": "Shariat - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Shariat","content": "Organisation: RestoringVision Location: Bangladesh Photographer: Courtesy of SAJIDA FoundationAfter struggling to see clearly due to presbyopia, Shariat, a tailor, received free reading glasses at an eye camp hosted by SAJIDA Foundation. The eyeglasses restored her precision, boosted her productivity, and stabilised her income—proving how simple vision care can have a powerful impact on livelihoods.","story": "Shariat Begum, 47, is a tailor in Chandpur Municipality, Bangladesh. Her income from stitching school uniforms, saris, and salwar kameez sets is her household’s only steady cash flow. In 2023, her near vision began to blur- threading needles, reading order slips, and marking fabric lines became difficult. Mistakes increased, orders slowed, and earnings dropped. Unable to afford a private clinic, Shariat continued working, straining her eyes and hoping the problem would be resolved. Then she learned about a free eye-screening and reading-glass distribution camp hosted by SAJIDA Foundation’s Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme, SUDIN, with support from RestoringVision. At the camp, she was diagnosed with presbyopia, the age-related loss of near vision. She received a pair of reading glasses on the spot, at no cost. The results were immediate. “Before the eye camp, I struggled to see the needle and my work slowed down; now the stitches are straight, orders are back, and I can cover rent without borrowing,” she said. With her vision restored, Shariat returned to full productivity, regained client trust, and stabilized her income. Her story shows how a simple pair of reading glasses can empower workers in informal sectors to sustain their livelihoods.","location": "Bangladesh
Photographer: Courtesy of SAJIDA Foundation","organisation": "RestoringVision
Location: Bangladesh
Photographer: Courtesy of SAJIDA Foundation","photographer": "Courtesy of SAJIDA Foundation","url": "shariat_rv","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7719/attachments/original/1758047686/SAJIDAFoundation_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1758047686"}, {"date": "2025-09-16 19:37:00 +0100","title": "Jose - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Jose","content": "Location: Guatemala Handing José a pair of glasses wasn't just about restoring his sight; it was about witnessing a profound moment of human connection. As his tears fell in gratitude, I couldn't help but cry with him, sharing in the overwhelming joy of seeing the world in focus for the first time.","story": "When José put on his new glasses, it was like his world came into \"focus\" for the very first time. As a truck driver, he had been navigating his livelihood with blurry vision, a constant struggle that went unseen. But in that moment, when we handed him a pair of glasses, everything changed. He eagerly read the vision chart from top to bottom, his face lighting up as he tackled the fine print he'd never been able to see.\"Que linda de leer\"—\"How beautiful to read,\" he exclaimed, his voice filled with pure joy. Then, with tears rapidly welling in his eyes, he whispered, \"Puedo veer todo\"—\"I can see everything.\" As his tears fell, so did mine. It was a shared moment of overwhelming gratitude and a moment I'll never forget.","location": "","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "jose","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7720/attachments/original/1758047857/Jose%CC%81_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1758047857"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 11:42:38 +0100","title": "Zaid and LeMeese - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Zaid and LeMeese","content": "Location: Alberta, CanadaRegular eye tests are so important because not all vision problems are visible, and what feels “normal” might not be healthy. ","story": "Working in eye care, I’ve often heard how a simple eye test can change a life. But when it happened in my own family, I truly understood the impact. My niece, LeMesse (1), started crossing her eyes when trying to focus. At first, we thought it was just a cute quirk, but it soon became clear that something was wrong. During an eye exam, she was diagnosed with amblyopia (lazy eye). The optometrist suggested checking my nephew, Zaid (10), as well, as this is a genetic disease. To our surprise, he too had amblyopia, though he showed no obvious signs. When asked why he never mentioned blurry vision, he replied: “I thought it was normal.” That moment reminded me why regular eye tests are so important. Not every vision problem is visible, and what feels “normal” may not be healthy vision. Thankfully, both children now have treatment plans, and a simple pair of glasses has already made a world of difference. Today, LeMesse and Zaid see clearly and have every chance to thrive in school, at home, and in their futures. This experience showed me the true meaning of #LoveYourEyes and the importance of equitable, affordable, and accessible eye care.","location": "Alberta, Canada","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "zaid_and_lemeese","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/7721/attachments/original/1758048218/Osmans_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1758048218"}, {"date": "2025-10-07 15:59:00 +0100","title": "Víctorino Ayala - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Víctorino Ayala","content": "Organisation: Fundación Visión Location: Paraguay Photographer: Marcos MenaGracias al apoyo compasivo y una cirugía experta, Víctorino superó su miedo a la ceguera. Recuperó la vista, lo que le llenó de alegría y le devolvió su independencia. Su historia subraya el poder transformador de la salud visual.","story": "Víctorino Tomás, apegado a su casa y rutina, vio cómo su visión se volvió borrosa durante seis meses, hasta dejar de reconocer a la gente. Aunque aceptó una consulta, al principio se negó a operarse por miedo a quedarse ciego. Gracias a la explicación clara del equipo de Fundación Visión y al apoyo insistente de su familia, finalmente aceptó la cirugía. El día de la operación, se mostró tranquilo y decidido. Tras la intervención, su reacción al retirar el parche fue inmediata: “veo todo ahora”. Pudo identificar personas, reconocer caras y leer. La recuperación le devolvió la seguridad y el deseo de retomar sus actividades y su trabajo. Agradeció profundamente al equipo que lo acompañó: “mediante ustedes volví a ver”. Su caso subraya la importancia de apoyar y convencer a quienes necesitan cirugía para que puedan volver a su vida cotidiana.","location": "Paraguay
Photographer: Marcos Mena","organisation": "Fundación Visión
Location: Paraguay
Photographer: Marcos Mena","photographer": "Marcos Mena","url": "v_ctorino_ayala","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8047/attachments/original/1759849098/V_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1759849098"}, {"date": "2025-10-07 16:05:40 +0100","title": "Fundación Visión - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Fundación Visión","content": "Organisation: Fundación Visión Location: Paraguay Photographer: Maira BogarínLa Fundación Visión lleva esperanza y salud ocular a los rincones más remotos. Su trabajo devuelve la visión, pero sobre todo, devuelve la independencia, la alegría y la posibilidad de un futuro lleno de oportunidades a quienes más lo necesitan.","story": "La Fundación Visión no espera a que la gente llegue; sale a su encuentro. Su clínica móvil recorre los lugares más alejados del Paraguay para llevar esperanza en forma de salud ocular. Realiza tamizajes, pero sobre todo, escucha. Mira a los ojos a las personas, detecta no solo patologías, sino también historias de necesidad. Esta foto captura uno de esos encuentros en el árido Chaco Paraguayo, donde el acceso a salud es una lucha diaria. Aquí, la Fundación convierte el aislamiento en una oportunidad. Cada derivación que realizan es un hilo que teje una red de cuidado, asegurando que nadie se quede atrás. Cada parada de la clínica es más que una consulta: es la promesa de un mañana donde un niño podrá ver el pizarrón, un abuelo reconocerá el rostro de su nieto y un adulto podrá seguir trabajando. No solo previenen la ceguera; devuelven la posibilidad de soñar. Porque el derecho a ver, es, también, el derecho a vivir con dignidad. Juntos, estamos abriendo caminos de luz.","location": "Paraguay","organisation": "Fundación Visión","photographer": "Maira Bogarín","url": "fundaci_n_visi_n","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8048/attachments/original/1759849513/FV_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1759849513"}, {"date": "2025-10-07 16:08:30 +0100","title": "Fekadu Merga - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Fekadu Merga","content": "Location: Ethiopia Double challenge: blindness in both eyes and a hearing impairment. Without resources for treatment.","story": "Bezabeh Andarge, a 19-year-old from Dita woreda, near Arba Minch, faced a double challenge: blindness in both eyes and a hearing impairment. Without resources for treatment, Bezabeh's world grew increasingly isolated. Despite his hearing difficulties, Bezabeh had been a promising student, reaching the 6th grade. Tragically, the loss of his eyesight forced him to abandon his education, extinguishing his hopes for the future Asefa Andarge, Bezabeh's niece and a traditional cloth worker, became his dedicated caregiver. Limited by their financial circumstances, Asefa couldn't afford to seek medical help for Bezabeh's eyes or ears. he brought him to the CBP outreach event. Bezabeh underwent successful eye surgery and regained his vision. Asefa watched with tears in his eyes as his Nephew was finally able to see. \"We can’t afford his treatments tank you all of you for doing this,\" exclaimed. Now at least he can start his school and have a chance at a real life. Overjoyed by the transformation, Asefa asked if CBP could also help Bezabeh with his hearing impairment. With CBP's assistance, they connected with doctors who could evaluate Bezabeh's hearing and explore potential treatment options.","location": "Ethiopia","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "fekadu_merga","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8049/attachments/original/1759849703/F_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1759849703"}, {"date": "2025-10-07 16:11:49 +0100","title": "Merhan Memon - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Merhan Memon","content": "Location: PakistanAs an IT leader in eye health, I have seen how technology and data transform lives — from children learning in classrooms to drivers regaining independence. My journey is a reminder that protecting vision safeguards dignity, opportunity, and the future. That’s why we must all #LoveYourEyes.","story": "I am Engr. Mehran Memon, serving as Assistant Director of Information Technology at the Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (SIOVS), Hyderabad, since 2017. With degrees in Software Engineering (B.E. 2012, M.E. 2015) from Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro Pakistan, I have dedicated my career to integrating technology with healthcare to strengthen systems and expand access to quality eye care. At SIOVS, I lead digital transformation initiatives, act as IT Lead & Master Trainer for Peek Vision (CBM-supported), and serve as Focal Person for Safeguarding. My work includes implementing digital school screening, driver vision assessments, and community-based eye health programs initiatives that have reached thousands of individuals, enabling early detection, timely treatment, and prevention of avoidable blindness. These efforts demonstrate how thoughtfully applied technology can reduce inequalities and build sustainable eye health systems. In recognition of these contributions, I was honored as one of the IAPB Young Systems Leader Award Winners 2025 and awarded the Karen Sparrow Scholarship 2025, reflecting my commitment to ethical, data-driven, and people-centered approaches in eye health.","location": "Pakistan","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "merhan_memon","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8050/attachments/original/1759849902/Mehran_Memon_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1759849902"}, {"date": "2025-10-07 21:56:12 +0100","title": "Sadaf - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Sadaf","content": "Location: PakistanSadaf’s new glasses gave her back the ability to read, study, and dream. Her story shows how free, accessible eye care can transform a child’s future, turning blurred vision into bright opportunities.","story": "At RHC Kot Qazi in Pakistan, where I am working as an optometrist, 14-year-old Sadaf came with her grandfather, struggling to keep up in school. Her glasses had broken months earlier, and without them, reading and studying became extremely difficult. She often experienced headaches and found it nearly impossible to follow her lessons. Her grandfather explained that although she desperately needed glasses, the family could not afford a replacement. With her father working as a daily wage laborer, buying spectacles was far beyond their financial reach. This meant Sadaf’s education and confidence were slipping away simply because she could not see clearly. Thanks to the support of CBM and COAVS, Sadaf was prescribed new glasses and received them free of cost at the community optical shop in Talagang. The moment she put them on, her face lit up with relief and joy. She could finally read again without struggle. Her grandfather expressed his gratitude, saying, “Now my granddaughter can study without any problem.” Sadaf’s story reflects how something as simple as a pair of spectacles can transform a child’s future, restoring not only vision but also hope, confidence, and the chance to achieve her dreams.","location": "Pakistan","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "sadaf","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8080/attachments/original/1759870554/Sadaf_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1759870554"}, {"date": "2025-10-07 22:28:49 +0100","title": "Bourama Sacko - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Bourama Sacko","content": "Organisation: SightSavers Location: Mali Photographer: Harandane Dicko\"It's going to have a big impact on my future because I'm going to be able to write well and see well.”","story": "Bourama, 13, was born with congenital cataracts, blurring his sight. He struggled with schoolwork and would bump into things when he was walking. His dad Diakaridia explained: “I noticed that he was blinking a lot. I went to the health centre and they told me he was suffering from cataracts. “When he looks, his eyes hurt, and when he walks, he bumps into things. I know he's very concerned about his illness. His mom talks to me about it every day and asks me to look after him.” But he found it hard to get help for his son: “I have no opportunity to raise my problem. I'm illiterate and when you don't have any connections to help me get help, it's not easy.” Bourama’s cataracts were removed as part of an eye health programme in Mali, led by Sightsavers. After his operation, Bourama said: “I can see clearly with both eyes. I can see everyone and that makes me happy. “When I'm better, we're going to play football and I'd really like to go back to school. It's going to have a big impact on my future because I'm going to be able to write well and see well.”","location": "Mali","organisation": "SightSavers","photographer": "Harandane Dicko","url": "bourama_sacko","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8081/attachments/original/1759872506/Bourama_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1759872506"}, {"date": "2025-10-07 22:34:51 +0100","title": "Twinde Tishuma - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Twinde Tishuma","content": "Organisation: Sightsavers Location: Zimbabwe Photographer: Cynthia MatonhodzeTwinde's pain has stopped and his school performance has improved after an operation on a traumatic cataract.","story": "Sightsavers first met Twinde in early 2023 when he had an operation on a traumatic cataract. Now 11, his eye is fully recovered and his sight restored. Before his surgery, he would return from herding his family’s goats and cattle with pain in his eye, which would only go away after taking a nap. He also used to get distressed thinking about how his parents would afford his operation. His mother Cecilia was really worried about her son - Twinde was in a lot of pain, suffered from chronic headaches, and was unable to do simple household chores. Since his operation and the restoration of his sight, Twinde says he can “see properly from all angles with both eyes”. It has also made life easier in school, with teachers reporting that his performance has improved: “[before the operation] I could struggle to read words with the injured eye but now I can see and read words without difficulty”.","location": "Zimbabwe","organisation": "Sightsavers","photographer": "Cynthia Matonhodze","url": "twinde","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8082/attachments/original/1759872874/Twinde_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1759872874"}, {"date": "2025-10-07 22:44:00 +0100","title": "Oscar Zaid - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Oscar Zaid","content": "Organisation: Fundacion de Asistencia Privada Conde de Valenciana Location: Mexico Photographer: Juan Emmanuel Jimenez AguilarOscar Zaid, un niño de 3 años de edad originario de San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, México, fue sometido a un procedimiento quirúrgico para la corrección de Catarata Congénita.","story": "Oscar Zaid, un niño de 3 años de edad originario de San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, México, fue sometido a un procedimiento quirúrgico para la corrección de Catarata Congénita. La intervención se realizó en el Hospital Conde de Valenciana, ubicado en la Ciudad de México, un centro de referencia reconocido por su alta especialización en oftalmología pediátrica y cirugías oculars complejas. La cirugía se llevó a cabo con éxito, siguiendo los protocolos médicos establecidos y empleando tecnologías avanzadas para garantizar la recuperación óptima del pequeño. La intervención fue fundamental para mejorar la visión de Oscar Zaid y prevenir posibles complicaciones asociadas con la catarata congénita, que si no se tratara en etapas tempranas, podría comprometer significativamente su desarrollo visual y su calidad de vida futura. Actualmente, se continúa con el seguimiento oftalmológico para asegurar la adecuada recuperación y la estabilidad de su visión, así como para detectar oportunamente cualquier posible complicación postoperatoria.","location": "Mexico","organisation": "Fundacion de Asistencia Privada Conde de Valenciana ","photographer": "Juan Emmanuel Jimenez Aguilar","url": "oscar_zaid","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8083/attachments/original/1759873469/Oscar_MAIN_IMAGE.JPG?1759873469"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 11:40:00 +0100","title": "Holo Makanisa - Every Story Counts","headline": "Holo Makanisa","content": "Organisation: Sighsavers Location: Tanzania Photographer: Michael GoimaHaving her cataracts removed and sight restored was \"quite joyful\" for Holo.","story": "Holo, a 70-year-old farmer, is one of many people who benefited when a mobile clinic visited her Tanzanian village. Rachel, Holo’s daughter, said Holo had started to completely lose her sight and was getting a lot of headaches, which made her day-to-day activities difficult. She had been taken to a referral hospital but her eye issues persisted. One day while Rachel was in town, she was told that skilled doctors would be coming soon as part of a mobile clinic. Before her cataract surgery, Holo was scared and stressed about what would happen. Rachel managed to convince her the operation was necessary, and Holo agreed to go ahead. By the time she came out of surgery, Holo was happy and relaxed, and the pain she had felt was already reduced. Holo is now a convert to the importance of good eye health and is going to tell her brother to access treatment for his eye issues. Asked how she feels about having her sight restored, Holo says simply: “It is quite joyful.”","location": "Tanzania","organisation": "Sighsavers","photographer": "Michael Goima","url": "holo","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8113/attachments/original/1760006328/196208_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760006328"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 11:45:37 +0100","title": "Marco Emmanuel - Every Story Counts","headline": "Marco Emmanuel","content": "Organisation:Fundacion de Asistencia Privada Conde de Valenciana Location: Mexico Photographer: Juan Emmanuel Jimenez AguilarMarco, un niño de 6 años de edad, originario de Ometepec, Guerrero, México, fue sometido a un procedimiento quirúrgico para corregir un estrabismo.","story": "Marco, un niño de 6 años de edad, originario de Ometepec, Guerrero, México, fue sometido a un procedimiento quirúrgico para corregir un estrabismo. La intervención se realizó en el Hospital Conde de Valenciana, Ciudad de México, un centro médico de alta especialización reconocido por su experiencia en oftalmología pediátrica y cirugías oculares complejas. El tratamiento del estrabismo en Marco fue necesario para corregir la desviación ocular, la cual, si no se tratara oportunamente, podría haber resultado en complicaciones adicionales como ambliopía (ojo vago) o pérdida de la visión binocular, afectando tanto su desarrollo visual como su integración social y emocional. La intervención tuvo como objetivo mejorar la alineación ocular, optimizar la visión en ambos ojos y promover un desarrollo visual más normal. ","location": "Mexico","organisation": "","photographer": "Juan Emmanuel Jimenez Aguilar","url": "marco_emmanuel","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8114/attachments/original/1760006716/DSC_2107_MAIN_IMAGE.JPG?1760006716"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 13:24:55 +0100","title": "Maria Anuesa - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Maria Anuesa","content": "Organisation:Moroto Regional Referral Hospital Location: Uganda Photographer: Gladys AttoCataract surgery restored dignity and independence for Maria","story": "After enduring two years of blindness caused by cataract, Maria made a long journey from Nabilatuk, a remote district in Karamoja in North eastern Uganda that many people are unfamiliar with. She was accompanied by her granddaughter for support as she sought medical help. The very next morning, as soon as the bandage was removed, Maria’s face lit up with a smile. She began identifying the colors of our clothing one by one, filling me with immense happiness and relief. Maria shared that she had previously depended entirely on her two granddaughters for daily tasks such as cooking, washing clothes, and guiding her to the latrine. She felt a loss of dignity. Her granddaughters had dropped out of school to care for her. Now, everything has changed. She says her granddaughters will be able to return to school, and she will be able to resume her normal life of independence. When asked what message she would share with others in the community, Maria responded: “Now I can confidently tell people to come and have surgery. I will tell them about the miracles that happen in this place.” Support from Sightsavers made Maria's surgery possible","location": "Uganda","organisation": "","photographer": "Gladys Atto","url": "maria_anuesa","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8146/attachments/original/1760012621/IMG_7272_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760012621"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 13:29:11 +0100","title": "Caitlin Holland - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Caitlin Holland","content": "Organisation:Restoring Vision Location: USAWhen my toddler was diagnosed with strabismus, I felt the fear of not knowing what was wrong—and the relief of expert care. Millions lack that access. Joining RestoringVision lets me help restore sight and dignity to those who need it most. Vision shouldn’t be a barrier to thriving.","story": "At two, my daughter Holland “failed” her vision test. Her pediatrician showed us a scan: her right eye was crossing to focus. We hadn’t noticed vision issues, but she was clumsier than other kids on the playground. We were referred to the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins—one of the best in the world. After extensive testing (and many snacks), we learned she had strabismus. She was farsighted and crossing her eyes to compensate. We tried eyeglasses and patching. When that didn’t help, she received a stronger prescription. Now at 4.5, surgery may be needed to reduce her prescription and stop the crossing. As a parent, you want your child’s life to be happy, healthy, and easy. Eyeglasses aren’t a big deal—but lacking access to vision care is life-altering. That’s why I joined RestoringVision as Marketing Director. I’ve felt the anxiety of not knowing what’s wrong—and imagined it multiplied for millions without care. RestoringVision provides free readers and screenings to people over 40 with near-vision loss. I want a world where poor eyesight never stops someone from learning or thriving. I’m proud to help restore vision—and dignity—for millions.","location": "USA","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "caitlin_holland","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8147/attachments/original/1760012936/1757522490334_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760012936"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 13:44:03 +0100","title": "Samuel Hendrickson - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Samuel Hendrickson","content": "Location: USA Photographer:Dr. Christine CapaciLosing my sight was sudden and devastating, but it didn’t take away my love for life or laughter. I now use comedy to share my story and bring light into dark places. Even in blindness, I’m learning that hope and humor can keep us moving forward.","story": "Six years ago, I woke up blind in one eye. While I slept, I had Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) — in simple terms, a stroke to the eye. The doctor told me my vision would never return, but reassured me it was unlikely to happen again. Four weeks later, it did. My other eye was struck, and life as I knew it was gone. There were no warnings, no way to prepare. Overnight, I lost not only my sight but also my hope. My faith in God crumbled. I grieved the small things I once took for granted: the colors of a sunset, the sparkle in my daughter’s eyes, the silent looks my wife and I shared. The world became hazy, blurred, and unbearably sad. And yet, I’ve learned that loss is not the end of love or meaning. My family and I walk through this together. I still struggle with the question: can I learn to love even the things I most wish had never happened? I don’t have the full answer, but every day I try to live into it.","location": "USA","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "samuel_hendrickson","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8149/attachments/original/1760013828/20250314_202232_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760013828"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 13:52:10 +0100","title": "Ernest Mwaipopo - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Ernest Mwaipopo","content": "Location: Tanzania Photographer: Cletus SangaI was uncertain and very worried about my health, but my child told me about the treatment available at the hospital. When I went and received care, I immediately noticed a big difference — my pain started to ease, and now my life has greatly improved,\" said one of the patients.","story": "I was uncertain and very worried about my health, but my child told me about the treatment available at the hospital. When I went and received care, I immediately noticed a big difference — my pain started to ease, and now my life has greatly improved,\" said one of the patients.","location": "Tanzania
Photographer: Cletus Sanga","organisation": "","photographer": "Cletus Sanga","url": "ernest_mwaipopo","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8151/attachments/original/1760014314/Screenshot_2025-10-09_at_13.46.09_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760014314"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 13:54:57 +0100","title": "Yazan Gammoh - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Yazan Gammoh","content": "Organisation: World Council of Optometry Location: Jordan Photographer: Yazan GammohUtilizing research to support school eye health programs","story": "A research fund from VOSH/International was an opportunity to trigger a teachers-led school eye health program in Jordan, a country struggling with hosting refugees from neighboring countries. The teachers training and providing low cost vision screening kits through a research fund opened the door for students to be screened and vision problems to be detected early. The project also created a referral pathway for spectacles delivery. ","location": "Jordan
Photographer: Yazan Gammoh","organisation": "World Council of Optometry
Location: Jordan
Photographer: Yazan Gammoh","photographer": "Yazan Gammoh","url": "yazan","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8152/attachments/original/1760014482/IMG_2574_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1760014482"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 13:57:00 +0100","title": "Ginny - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Ginny","content": "Organisation: World Council of Optometry Location: USA Eye health is so important as it is one of the key ingredients to having a great quality of life - coming from someone like me who suffered from undiagnosed BVD","story": "I realized the importance of eye health after being diagnosed with Binocular Vision Dysfunction. I was suffering from numerous symptoms - dizziness, nausea, frequent migraines and so much more. It affected my work, my relationships and almost every aspect of my waking moment. I was only able to get my quality of life back with the help of my optometrist who diagnosed me, getting the correct eyeglasses prescription and going through months of vision therapy.","location": "USA ","organisation": "World Council of Optometry ","photographer": "","url": "ginny","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8153/attachments/original/1760014623/Media_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760014623"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 14:00:01 +0100","title": "Rachel Ghatasheh - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Rachel Ghatasheh","content": "Organisation: World Council of Optometry Location: USA As someone who has had glasses since the 5th grade, it was easy to take my eyesight for granted. However, my grandmother's lack of eye care reminded me how important it is to advocate for global access to quality eye care so everyone can have the opportunity to see","story": "I was in the 5th grade when I first got glasses. I still remember looking out at the trees and realizing there were individual leaves! It wasn't all just one big blob! Since then, I've worn my glasses every day. They've helped me see so much, like waterfalls and sunsets and my family, even if only on video call. I try not to take my sight for granted, but sometimes it's easy to forget how it was before. A few years ago, my grandmother came to the US. While she was here, we took her to get her vision checked for the first time in years. It was worse than expected; they found that she was nearly blind in one eye and had bad eyesight in the other. This put everything into perspective for me. It made me realize that not everyone was in a position to receive the same consistent quality eye care I had since I was little. She is the reason I began working at a global optometric organization -- to help those around the globe get the same care as I did, and for everyone to have the ability to see the leaves.","location": "USA","organisation": "World Council of Optometry","photographer": "","url": "rachel_ghatasheh","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8154/attachments/original/1760014777/theleaves_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760014777"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 14:02:00 +0100","title": "Alyssa Callaghan - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Alyssa Callaghan","content": "Organisation: World Council of Optometry Location: USAAs an employee of WCO and someone who received early intervention from an optometrist at the age of two, I understand the importance of having my child’s eyes tested. Keeping her eyes healthy will set her up for success in her development and her future.","story": "<div class=\"td tdval prtn greyrow\">At the age of two, a community program called Parents as First Teachers had a representative stop by and was able to help my mother catch a suspected sight issue. I was then referred to an optometrists where I was diagnosed with anisometropic amblyopia, which could have been gone undetected. Because of this intervention and treatment, my success in school was not deterred. Now that I have a 3 year old daughter, I know the importance of getting her eyes checked. </div>","location": "USA","organisation": "World Council of Optometry","photographer": "","url": "alyssa_callaghan","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8155/attachments/original/1760014953/A_and_G_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760014953"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 14:10:23 +0100","title": "Dr Andrew Low - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Dr Andrew Low","content": "Location: Malaysia Photographer: @dr.andrewlow <div class=\"td tdtitle prtn\">Every day, I witness life-changing moments, but this one stayed with me. He carried a marker pen everywhere, rewriting his world when his vision faded. But after cataract surgery, he dropped the marker into the bin and walked out free. That’s not just vision restored, it’s life restored.</div>","story": "The Last Marker is not just a story about sight, it’s a story about renewed life. As an ophthalmologist, I meet patients every day who remind me that vision is not something we see with our eyes alone. It’s how we live. One man, in particular, carried a black marker pen everywhere he went. Not to write notes, but to rewrite his world. Cataracts had stolen his clarity, words on paper had faded into fog, numbers into ghosts. So, he made them bold again, line after line, he rewrites everything, just to stay connected to the life he was slowly losing sight of. Then came his cataract surgery. One week later, he returned, eyes bright and spirit lighter. Out of habit, he still carried his marker until he realized he didn’t need it anymore. He smiled, dropped it into the dustbin, and walked out free. That moment wasn’t just about vision restored. It was life restored.","location": "Malaysia","organisation": "","photographer": "@dr.andrewlow","url": "dr_andrew_low","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8156/attachments/original/1760015407/IMG_2331_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760015407"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 14:14:13 +0100","title": "Ronald Kefa - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Ronald Kefa","content": "Organisation: Peek Vision Location: Kenya “When I was young, my grandfather developed blindness and eye care services were nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, he died blind. As I grew up and got involved in eye care work, for me, it became a personal mission, to prevent other people from suffering the fate of my grandfather.”","story": "Ronald Kefa is a Programme Management Lead at Peek Vision. Based in Kenya, he works with NGOs and eye hospitals to help them deliver greater impact. With Peek’s software and data insights, they are streamlining vision screening and improving access to treatment. Ronald’s commitment to eye health is deeply personal. As a child, he watched his grandfather slowly lose his sight. Living in rural Uganda, his grandfather longed for treatment that never came. With eye care services far out of reach, he died blind - a tragedy that is repeated for millions of people worldwide. In this video, Ronald explains how that experience left a lasting impression on him, and today fuels his determination to ensure that others don’t lose their sight for lack of treatment. At Peek, Ronald works with partners including CBM Christian Blind Mission, Sightsavers, and The Fred Hollows Foundation to embed Peek technology into their eye health programmes. He has played a key role in CBM’s Vision Impact Project, which in just over three years has screened 5.7 million people across seven counties in Kenya, and connected more than 930,000 with life-changing eye care.","location": "Kenya","organisation": "Peek Vision","photographer": "","url": "ronald_kefa","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8157/attachments/original/1760015620/Screenshot_2025-10-09_at_14.12.06_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760015620"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 14:17:11 +0100","title": "Subash Pokharel - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Subash Pokharel","content": "Location:Nepal Photographer: Team NDEHPrecious moment of vision restoration","story": "During the Surgical Eye Camp at Diktel, Khotang (27th–29th December 2024), we experienced a deeply moving moment of vision restoration. Among the patients was 56-year-old Mrs. Sabimaya Sarki, who had been completely blind in both eyes for years, with only perception of light remaining. She was carried to the camp, unable to walk or see, and also suffered from severe scoliosis, preventing her from lying flat for surgery. Despite these challenges, we were determined to help her. I, Dr. Subash Pokharel, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreo-Retina Surgeon at Nawa Dristi Eye Hospital, performed her cataract surgery in a standing position, adapting the microscope and technique to her posture. The operation demanded great care and adjustment, but our focus was on restoring her sight. The next day, as her bandage was removed, Sabimaya’s world lit up — she could see again after years of darkness. Her tears of joy and heartfelt blessings touched everyone present. This unforgettable experience reaffirmed our purpose as eye surgeons: restoring not just sight, but dignity, hope, and independence. In remote regions like Khotang, such moments remind us that compassion and teamwork truly bring light to those living in darkness.","location": "","organisation": "","photographer": "Team NDEH","url": "subash_pokharel","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8158/attachments/original/1760015811/1736531519708_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760015811"}, {"date": "2025-10-09 14:19:45 +0100","title": "Shilpa Sonarkhan - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Shilpa Sonarkhan","content": "Location:India \"The threads of hope, determination and perseverance\"","story": "When I diagnosed their two-year-old child with refractive esotropia, the mother understood glasses were critical to prevent permanent vision damage. But the heavy prescription lenses constantly slid down his tiny nose bridge, leaving painful red marks and prompting him to pull them off repeatedly. Finding the right size and frame proved equally challenging. After exhausting every conventional solution—silicone grips, adjustable nose pads, elastic bands—nothing worked. Optical shops offered sympathy but no answers, and each day without glasses risked the child's brain learning to ignore one eye. Every morning became a tearful battle. Late one night, inspiration struck. She modified the glasses by drilling small holes in the temple tips and threading soft cotton cord through them. She also created a custom cloth nose support—a small cushion covered in breathable fabric that cradled his nose bridge like a gentle hammock, distributing the weight while threads tied at the back secured everything. To her relief, her child wore the glasses all day without complaint. Three months later, I confirmed his eye was responding beautifully to treatment. The pride in her smile was unmistakable—a testament of a mother's determination for the love of childs sight!","location": "","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "shilpa_sonarkhan","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8159/attachments/original/1760015976/20250715_103827_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760015976"}, {"date": "2025-09-01 14:21:00 +0100","title": "Hillary A. Golden - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Hillary A. Golden","content": "Location: USA A stye brought me to the optometrist, but a glaucoma diagnosis shocked me after regular eye exams. Normal pressure and no symptoms but lost sight. I researched globally, coached others, and even advocated on Capitol Hill. Appreciating and fighting for my sight every step of the way.","story": "I made an appointment with an Optometrist for a stye and walked out with a glaucoma diagnosis. My world shifted that day - I went through shock and denial to acceptance and advocacy. Everything I knew about glaucoma was blown out of the water. I thought you had to be a ‘certain’ age, have high eye pressure, and problems with your sight. Even though I had regular eye exams my glaucoma wasn’t diagnosed until I had lost a good amount of sight. My pressures were normal, I wasn’t having vision issues, and I was younger than the typical glaucoma patient - no red flags! Now, I know glaucoma can be diagnosed at any age - even with normal pressure. I turned my glaucoma into a way to reach out and help others going through their own diagnosis. I used background in medical sales and surgical training to research the disease and reach out to doctors all over the world for answers. Eventually becoming a coach for other patients and advocating for sight all the way up to Capitol Hill in DC. I appreciate the sight I have and will never give up fighting to keep it! ","location": "USA

A stye brought me to the optometrist, but a glaucoma diagnosis shocked me after regular eye exams. Normal pressure and no symptoms but lost sight. I researched globally, coached others, and even advocated on Capitol Hill. Appreciating and fighting for my sight every step of the way.","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "hillary_a_golden","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8160/attachments/original/1760016089/IMG_4155_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1760016089"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:39:56 +0100","title": "Charlis Masih - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Charlis Masih","content": "Location: UK“Sight is not a privilege—it is a right.” Everyone deserves clear vision and access to eye care. As Helen Keller said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” Protecting sight empowers lives and futures.","story": "Eye health matters deeply for both children and older generations, as vision plays a vital role at every stage of life. For children, healthy eyes are key to learning, growth, and discovery. Good vision supports reading, school performance, and confidence, helping them explore the world with curiosity and safety. Early eye check-ups can detect conditions like lazy eye or nearsightedness before they affect learning or development. For older generations, maintaining eye health preserves independence, mobility, and quality of life. Regular screenings can prevent or manage age-related conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration—common causes of vision loss that can often be treated if caught early. Caring for eye health across generations strengthens families, allowing grandparents to watch their grandchildren grow and children to see a bright future ahead. Protecting vision means protecting memories, possibilities, and the connection between generations.","location": "UK","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "charlis_masih","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8179/attachments/original/1760103585/Amblyopia_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760103585"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:42:23 +0100","title": "Allison Bartnick - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Allison Bartnick","content": "Organisation: World Council of Optometry Location: USA Working for the World Council of Optometry has deepened my appreciation for the importance of protecting my vision, and reminded me how fortunate I am to have access to quality eye care.","story": "I started wearing glasses when I was 10 years old, and today they’re as much a part of my daily life as my shirt or my shoes. It is humbling to imagine how different my life would be without these simple frames. Working for a global optometry organization has deepened my appreciation for the importance of protecting my vision, and reminded me how fortunate I am to have access to quality eye care. Eye care access impacts our lives in so many ways, and it is vital for overall health and wellness. ","location": "USA

","organisation": "World Council of Optometry
Location: USA

","photographer": "","url": "allison_bartnick","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8180/attachments/original/1760103727/484920877_1083955907106731_6370355599702744268_n_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760103727"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:44:00 +0100","title": "Lia Marmelstein - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Lia Marmelstein","content": "Organisation: Eye Care Foundation Location: Netherlands I took photos of the 90 participants for the Eye Care Foundation. Their enthusiasm and motivation to walk for a good cause were enormous.","story": "The annual 10-mile Dam tot Damloop is a sponsored run. Ninety participants participated for a charity run, a special project of the Eye Care Foundation in Nepal. Together, the 90 runners raised €40,000. The photo shows three participants from South Africa, their parents and their daughter. The parents were visiting their daughter, who recently became a mother, and lives in Amsterdam. The three of them spontaneously volunteered to participate for the Eye Care Foundation.","location": "Netherlands","organisation": "Eye Care Foundation","photographer": "","url": "lia_marmelstein","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8181/attachments/original/1760103870/IMG_2834_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1760103870"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:47:00 +0100","title": "Jamie Garlett - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Jamie Garlett","content": "Location: Australia Photographer: Mykala Nelson<div class=\"tr\"><div class=\"td tdval prtn\">\"I may have lost my sight, but I found my vision. Through music and culture, I live my dreams and show others that blindness doesn’t mean the end—it’s a new beginning. Every note I play is proof that you can rise, lead, and inspire—no matter what.\"</div></div>","story": "Jamie Garlett – Vision Without Limits I’m Jamie Garlett, a proud First Nations man, musician, and father. At 18, I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa—a degenerative eye condition that eventually took all my sight. At first, I felt lost. I didn’t know how I’d provide for my family or continue doing what I loved. But then, my father gave me a guitar. That moment changed everything. Music became my way forward. It helped me reconnect with culture, community, and purpose. I now perform, speak, and share my story to show others that blindness doesn’t mean the end—it can be the beginning of something powerful. I live with no vision, but I see my future clearly. I’m living proof that no matter what challenges you face, you can still live your dreams.","location": "Australia
Photographer: Mykala Nelson","organisation": "","photographer": "Mykala Nelson","url": "jamie_garlett","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8182/attachments/original/1760104002/jamie_1_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760104002"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:49:00 +0100","title": "Becky Agbaje - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Becky Agbaje","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaA career decision made by fascination with successful eye surgeries.","story": "Mrs. Becky Agbaje is the Training Coordinator for the Nurses and the Ophthalmic Medical Assistants at the Eye Foundation Hospital.","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "becky_agbaje1","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8183/attachments/original/1760104137/Mrs_Agbaje_-_Staff_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760104137"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:50:00 +0100","title": "Benson Fayehun - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Benson Fayehun","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaA mission birthed from firsthand experience of lack of access to basic healthcare, especially eye care services.","story": "Mr. Benson Fayehun is the president of the Relief for Human Suffering Foundation, an advocate for preventable blindness and a partner with Eye Foundation Hospital","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital
Location: Nigeria","photographer": "","url": "benson_fayehun","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8184/attachments/original/1760104240/Mr_Benson_Fayehun_-_Advocate_and_Partner_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760104240"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:52:39 +0100","title": "Olayemi Runsewe - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Olayemi Runsewe","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaA career decision made from curiosity about the post-surgery experience.","story": "Miss Olayemi Runsewe is a Certified Ophthalmic Technician at Eye Foundation Hospital, Nigeria.","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "olayemi_runsewe","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8185/attachments/original/1760104351/COT_Olayemi_-Ophthalmic_Assistant_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760104351"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:54:43 +0100","title": "Feyidamilola Hassan-Oyewumi - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Feyidamilola Hassan-Oyewumi","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaDr. Feyidamilola Hassan Oyewumi is an ophthalmologist and Surgeon at Eye Foundation Hospital, Nigeria. She has had a firsthand experience of eye surgery, even as a surgeon.","story": "Dr. Feyidamilola Hassan Oyewumi is an ophthalmologist and Surgeon at Eye Foundation Hospital, Nigeria. She has had a firsthand experience of eye surgery, even as a surgeon.","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "feyidamilola_hassan_oyewumi","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8186/attachments/original/1760104474/Dr_Hassan-Oyewumi_-_Surgeon_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760104474"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:56:00 +0100","title": "Olufemi Oderinlo - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Olufemi Oderinlo","content": "Organisaiton: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaDr Olufemi Oderinlo is a senior consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon at the Eye Foundation Hospital. He has performed several successful eye surgeries.","story": "Dr Olufemi Oderinlo is a senior consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon at the Eye Foundation Hospital. He has performed several successful eye surgeries.","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "olufemi_oderinlo","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8187/attachments/original/1760104579/Dr_Oderinlo_-_Surgeon_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760104579"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 14:59:00 +0100","title": "Abiodun Ayinla - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Abiodun Ayinla","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaMr. Ayinla was a former employee and remains a patient at Eye Foundation Hospital","story": "Mr. Ayinla was a former employee and remains a patient at Eye Foundation Hospital","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "abiodun_ayinla","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8188/attachments/original/1760104754/Mr_Abiodun_Ayinla_-_Patient_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760104754"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 15:02:00 +0100","title": "Johnson Omagara - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Johnson Omagara","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaMr. John Omagara is a Glaucoma patient at Eye Foundation Hospital.","story": "Mr. John Omagara is a Glaucoma patient at Eye Foundation Hospital.","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "johnson_omagara","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8189/attachments/original/1760104939/Mr._Omagara_Johnson-_Patient_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760104939"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 15:04:00 +0100","title": "Margaret Oshionebo - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Margaret Oshionebo","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaMrs. Oshieonebo is a glaucoma patient at Eye Foundation Hospital","story": "Mrs. Oshieonebo is a glaucoma patient at Eye Foundation Hospital","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "margaret_oshionebo","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8190/attachments/original/1760105068/Mrs_Oshioenebo_-_Patient_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1760105068"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 15:06:00 +0100","title": "Halima Bogunjoko - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Halima Bogunjoko","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaMrs. Halima Bogunjoko is the General Manager of Operations at the Eye Foundation Hospital","story": "Mrs. Halima Bogunjoko is the General Manager of Operations at the Eye Foundation Hospital","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "halima_bogunjoko","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8191/attachments/original/1760105208/Mrs_Bogunjoko_-_Staff_at_Eye_Foundation_Hospital_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760105208"}, {"date": "2025-10-10 15:08:00 +0100","title": "Ada Kalu - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Ada Kalu","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaMrs. Halima Bogunjoko is the General Manager of Operations at the Eye Foundation Hospital","story": "Mrs. Halima Bogunjoko is the General Manager of Operations at the Eye Foundation Hospital","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "ada_kalu","image": ""}, {"date": "2025-10-10 15:15:00 +0100","title": "Oladunjoye Sowemimo - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Oladunjoye Sowemimo","content": "Organisation: Eye Foundation Hospital Location: NigeriaMr. Sowemimo is a staff member at Eye Foundation Hospital and has undergone an eye surgery in the hospital","story": "Mr. Sowemimo is a staff member at Eye Foundation Hospital and has undergone an eye surgery in the hospital","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Eye Foundation Hospital","photographer": "","url": "oladunjoye_sowemimo","image": ""}, {"date": "2025-10-15 14:21:40 +0100","title": "Emily - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Emily","content": "Location: United Kingdom Photographer: Kathryn PorterFinding out Emily's vision was impaired was worrying and upsetting as we did not know what to expect. But the staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital were amazing, explaining everything and helping our girl achieve the best vision she could! ","story": "When Emily turned 2 years old, we noticed her left eye was turned inwards. We were quickly referred to the Royal Gwent Hospital where head Orthoptist, Nicola Turner, assessed Emily's vision and identified the need for Emily to wear glasses and patch her right eye to try to strengthen the muscles in her left eye. We were lucky that Emily loved her glasses and wore them without too much of a fight. But the first few days of patching were tough. Emily struggled with having her \"good eye\" taken away from her and was too young to understand the importance of doing so. With Nicola's support and encouragement, Emily persevered and after 6 months of patching, her eyes had strengthened and improved significantly and she was able to stop patching. Enily was invited to the department's \"Patch Party\" where she could meet and play with other children that were also patching, which helped immensely. The team kept a close eye on Emily for the next 2 years to ensure there was no regression and Emily has now been discharged from their care, much to her disappointment as she loved going to see them! ","location": "United Kingdom","organisation": "","photographer": "Kathryn Porter","url": "emily","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8212/attachments/original/1760534489/IMG-20221209-WA0003_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1760534489"}, {"date": "2025-11-25 08:25:26 +0000","title": "Mohammed -Every Story Counts","headline": "Mohammed","content": "Organisation:Fred HollowsLocation: BangladeshPhotographer: Al Amin<div class=\"tr\"><div class=\"td tdval prtn\">For decades, 65-year-old rickshaw puller Mohammed Ali worked tirelessly to support his family until poor vision left him helpless. At a World Sight Day camp by Mazharul Haque BNSB Eye Hospital, supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation and ANCP, a simple pair of glasses restored his sight, independence, and hope.</div></div>","story": "For over 40 years, Mohammed Ali, a 65-year-old rickshaw puller from Jamtola, Chandpur Sadar, pedaled rickshaw through sun and rain to feed his family. Every turn of his rickshaw’s wheel carried the weight of love for his two daughters and son, and the strength of a man who never gave up. Six months ago, his world began to fade. His vision dimmed, and with it, his ability to earn. The man who once moved with purpose now struggled to find his way. His meager income could barely keep food on the table, let alone afford a doctor’s visit. Then came a moment of hope. During World Sight Day, Mazharul Haque BNSB Eye Hospital held a special eye camp for drivers and rickshaw pullers. With quiet determination, Mohammed Ali made his way there. After a simple eye exam, doctors diagnosed him with a refractive error and provided him with spectacles. When he put them on, everything changed. The world came rushing back in color and clarity. Tears welled in his eyes, not from sadness but from joy. He thanked The Fred Hollows Foundation, ANCP, and Mazharul Haque BNSB Eye Hospital for restoring his sight, dignity, and independence. ","location": "Bangladesh","organisation": "","photographer": "Al Amin","url": "mohammed","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8546/attachments/original/1764059100/shared_image_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1764059100"}, {"date": "2025-11-25 08:29:00 +0000","title": "Ziaul - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Ziaul","content": "Organisation:Vision SpringLocation: BangladeshPhotographer: Amirul Islam BappyAfter a workplace accident caused by declining vision cost him a finger, retired agricultural officer Ziaul Haque discovered that eyeglasses aren't just tools, they're lifelines. Now 67, his glasses enable him to read, teach his grandson, and live independently in retirement.","story": "Ziaul Haque, a retired 67-year old government officer, doesn't call his eyeglasses an accessory. He calls them a lifeline.For 34 years, Ziaul worked with Bangladesh's Department of Agricultural Extension, helping farmers adopt better techniques and fight crop loss. \"I saw the land change, and I saw people change,\" he says. \"But I didn't see my own vision fading - until it changed my life forever.\"Twenty-eight years ago, while preparing tools at a project site, Ziaul's blurry vision betrayed him. He misjudged the distance and lost a finger on his right hand. \"It was a stupid mistake,\" he says softly. \"But it was also my wake-up call.\" Since then, Ziaul has worn glasses every day. \"They became my closest companion. Not just to read or write, but to live.\"Now retired in a quiet village near Jamalpur, Ziaul begins each day with tea and a newspaper. In the afternoons, he helps his youngest grandson with school lessons. \"He reads slowly; I read with him. That time together, it's everything.\" \"I've lost a finger, I've left my job, I've aged,\" he says, \"but with these glasses, I haven't lost myself.\"","location": "Bangladesh","organisation": "","photographer": "Amirul Islam Bappy","url": "ziaul","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8547/attachments/original/1764059375/Ziaul_Haque_BGD_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1764059375"}, {"date": "2025-11-25 08:32:00 +0000","title": "Le Thi - Every Story Counts","headline": "Le Thi","content": "Organisation:Vision SpringLocation: VietnamPhotographer: Anh Le Thi Hoang Factory worker Le Thi Hiu, 51, assumed her declining vision was just aging. A free workplace screening through VisionSpring revealed presbyopia and provided her with reading glasses—restoring her independence at work and enabling her to help her grandson with homework as her family's sole breadwinner.","story": "<div style=\"font-size: 1.2em;\">By August 2025, Le Thi Hiu will have completed 12 years working at Regent Garment Factory in Hai Duong, packaging and labelling products.</div><div style=\"font-size: 1.2em;\"></div><div style=\"font-size: 1.2em;\">For three years, her eyesight had gradually deteriorated—a thin film seemed to cover her eyes constantly. Though aware her vision was weakening, she never planned to see a doctor. \"I'm already 51, so I just thought poor eyesight was a normal part of getting older,\" she explained. When her company announced free eye screening through VisionSpring's Clear Vision Workplaces program, she finally had her chance. She learned presbyopia was causing her blurry vision, and received +2.00 reading glasses. \"Without glasses, small text just blurs together. I often relied on younger colleagues to read tiny letters on clothing tags. Not anymore—now I can read everything myself.\"</div><div style=\"font-size: 1.2em;\"></div><div style=\"font-size: 1.2em;\">At home, her life is simple but full. Her husband, unable to work after a motorbike accident, cares for their grandson while she serves as the family's main breadwinner. \"His parents work late shifts, so they asked me to help him practice writing. But my vision was so poor, I couldn't see what he wrote. Now I can see each letter clearly. For me, having clear vision means having everything.\"</div>","location": "Vietnam","organisation": "","photographer": "Anh Le Thi Hoang","url": "le_thi","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8548/attachments/original/1764059537/z6839669400028_e985cddfd940a779531f77d1646f419f_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1764059537"}, {"date": "2025-12-02 10:28:00 +0000","title": "Ashik - Every Story Counts","headline": "Ashik","content": "Location: IndiaPhotographer: Ashik AliA day that reminded us vision goes far beyond sight — it’s about seeing with the heart. The children’s pure love, laughter, and strength showed us that true happiness isn’t in what we have, but in how deeply we can care, connect, and give. ❤️","story": "Love Beyond SightWe went for a vision screening at an orphanage — and every moment there touched our hearts deeply.Looking up from the ground to the sky, it felt like heaven was right there in front of us.A group of little angels, reaching out not for gifts or toys, but simply for love. Their laughter, their games, even their little arguments filled our hearts and ears with warmth. There were voices that had gone unheard for so long… yet so full of life and hope.We got to know each child personally, shared their smiles, and even ate the food they offered us with innocent joy. When it was time to leave, many eyes filled with tears.On the way back, thoughts kept flowing — “If there’s another life, may I be reborn as one of them… in a world unseen by most, where love is pure and unconditional.”We, who have everything, sometimes forget the value of it all. For these children, even a gentle touch or a visit means the world — because, for them, that’s what love, a parent’s warmth, truly feels like. ❤️","location": "India","organisation": "","photographer": "Ashik Ali","url": "ashik","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/8575/attachments/original/1764671267/AK_8_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1764671267"}, {"date": "2026-04-07 11:40:00 +0100","title": "Monika Schindler-Schnitzl - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Monika Schindler-Schnitzl","content": "Location: AustriaIAPB’s Junu Shrestha speaks to Monika Schindler-Schnitzl, Founder of Self-Help Graves' Disease/Endocrine Orbitopathy and a huge advocate for Rare Diseases. Monika’s lived experience of Thyroid Eye Disease was featured in the Seeing the Unseen Rare Diseases Policy Brief, published in November 2025 and against the backdrop of rare disease resolution at the World Health Assembly in May 2025.The conversation explores why personal stories are essential to effective policy, what people-centred eye care truly means in practice, and how health systems can better respond to the needs of those living with rare eye conditions.","story": "Why do you think it’s important for personal stories to sit alongside policy recommendations? Personal stories touch where numbers and strategy papers end. They make it clear that behind every political decision stands a real person with fears, hopes, and an everyday life full of challenges. Especially in the case of rare diseases, which often remain invisible, personal experiences give those affected a voice and dignity. They create closeness, promote understanding, and remind decision-makers that good policy must not only be efficient but also humane. It is only through the interplay of personal experiences and political recommendations that what is at stake is revealed – and why action is so urgently necessary.The World Health Assembly recently recognized rare diseases as a priority. From your perspective, why is this recognition important for people living with rare eye conditions? For people with rare eye diseases, this recognition offers hope for the protection of their sight. Vision loss threatens independence, participation, and quality of life – the prioritization makes it clear that these fears are taken seriously and improves the path to earlier diagnosis, targeted research, and better care.The brief calls for more people-centered approaches to eye care. In simple terms, what does “better care” mean for someone living with a rare eye disease? “Better care” for someone living with a rare eye disease means receiving a timely and accurate diagnosis, access to appropriate treatment and support, and not having to navigate the health system alone. It also means that healthcare providers listen to patients, understand their individual needs, and actively involve them in decisions about their care.Importantly, better care also means addressing stigma and social barriers that people with rare eye diseases often face. Vision loss or visible eye conditions can sometimes lead to misunderstanding, discrimination, or exclusion, which can affect a person’s confidence, education, employment, and participation in society.In simple terms, better care is people-centred care, care that supports not only the medical needs of the individual but also their dignity, inclusion, and quality of life. It is about putting the person at the centre, not just the disease.Access and affordability remain major challenges. What do you think health systems need to do to ensure people with rare eye diseases are not left behind? Healthcare systems must ensure that people with rare eye diseases receive timely access to specialized physicians, diagnostics, and therapies. Furthermore, costs should be fairly covered to ensure treatments remain affordable. Important steps also include education, research, and the involvement of affected individuals in decision-making – so that no one is left behind, and the risk of vision loss can be reduced, thus protecting quality of life.What is one message you hope policymakers take away after reading this brief?I hope policymakers recognise that every decision they make to improve access to care has a real impact on people’s everyday lives. This brief is a reminder that rare eye diseases must be explicitly included within broader rare disease policies and services, so that people are not at risk of losing vision or being lost within fragmented referral pathways.While each condition may be rare, the number of people living with rare diseases collectively is significant, and many cases of sight loss could be prevented if timely diagnosis, treatment, and care are accessible. Decisions regarding research, diagnostics, and treatment directly affect people’s quality of life, independence, and ability to participate fully in society.My hope is that policymakers act to prioritise rare diseases within health systems and ensure equitable access to care, support, and protection of eyesight for those affected.","location": "Austria","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "monika_schindler","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/10027/attachments/original/1775808141/Monika-Schindler-wall-image_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1775808141"}, {"date": "2026-05-27 08:48:00 +0100","title": "Mary - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Mary ","content": "Age: 43Occupation: Tea PickerLocation: LimuruBefore the eye camp, I struggled to see the tender leaves clearly. My eyes would tire quickly, and I often picked the wrong leaves, which affected my daily earnings and confidence.","story": "The moment I put on the eyeglasses at the camp, everything changed. The leaves, the baskets, the faces of my fellow workers, everything became clear and bright. I can now work faster, feel proud of the work I do. These glasses have given me more than clear sight they've given me confidence, dignity, and a better future for my family. ","location": "Limuru","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "mary","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/11743/attachments/original/1779867913/M_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1779867913"}, {"date": "2026-05-27 15:21:00 +0100","title": "Agrrey - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Agrrey","content": "Age: 48Occupation: Tea Withering Troughs MechanicLocation: TigoniBefore attending the comprehensive eye camp, I struggled to carry out my daily duties because my vision had become blurry. Simple tasks that once felt easy started taking longer, and I often doubted myself at work. ","story": "The moment I received my eyeglasses and put them on, everything became clear instantly. I could see properly again and felt a new sense of confidence. These glasses did not just improve my vision they restored my ability to work efficiently and provide for my family with confidence. ","location": "Tigoni","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "agrrey","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/11744/attachments/original/1779891570/A_MAIN_IMAGE_2.jpg?1779891570"}, {"date": "2026-05-27 15:42:00 +0100","title": "Jayden - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Jayden","content": "Location: Kakamega County, Kenya.Organisation: SightsaversI’m turning 12 this year. I love playing football, that’s my hobby. English is my favourite subject in school and I love it.The first time I had [pain in] my eyes, they were just itching and [weeping]. I came and told my mum. I told her that it is very painful, but she didn’t understand.  ","story": "I didn’t feel good. It was bad. Every morning when I woke up, they were red and they were painful.  There was a day that I came and told my class teacher that I’m not seeing well and I want to sit in front.  Jayden explains that a community health promoter visited his school, tested his eyes and referred him to hospital to get glasses. [On the day I went to hospital] I woke up early in the morning. When we got there, there were many people, so we just waited in the line. We got through to the doctors and they told my mum that I have an eye problem. They took me to a room and there were many frames, and they just told me: “Choose the frame that you like.” That day, I was happy! The glasses were very good. I just saw well – I can read, I can see small things. I’m just happy, I can do anything. © Sightsavers/ Samuel Otieno","location": "Kakamega County, Kenya.","organisation": "Sightsavers","photographer": "","url": "jayden","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/11776/attachments/original/1779892935/J_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1779892935"}, {"date": "2026-05-27 15:44:00 +0100","title": "Constance - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "A Life Devoted to Sight","content": "The Story of Nurse ConstanceLocation: Kakamega CountyOrganisation: SightsaversIn our eye clinic, we offer services to the patients, both from [the local area] and some patients referred from other hospitals. We can attend to more than 50 patients per day. Some patients need glasses: we know now to refer to those with refractive errors so that they can be given glasses free.","story": "We also conduct outreach services in the community with the help of Sightsavers. We go to the field; we tell the patient, “Come back to our clinic for a thorough examination.” They come to our clinic for further evaluation of the eye. What drives me, especially [working in the] eye unit? Let me tell you. We did surgery yesterday. When you do surgery, [you have] a patient who is not seeing; tomorrow the patient sees clearly. Imagine you are the happiest person: “Oh God, we did it!” This patient was blind. Now they can see. When you help somebody who was blind and this person can see, [they] will have a great impact on society because… they will be productive. [It’s] just improving the economy of the country. We are doing great.  © Sightsavers/ Samuel Otieno ","location": "Kakamega County","organisation": "Sightsavers","photographer": "","url": "constance","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/11777/attachments/original/1779893017/C_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1779893017"}, {"date": "2026-05-27 15:54:00 +0100","title": "Robison - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "From My First Cataract Surgery, I Never Looked Back","content": "Robinson, Ophthalmic Clinical Officer & Cataract Surgeon Location: Kakamega County, Kenya Organisation: SightsaversI am a trained ophthalmic clinical officer and cataract surgeon. I work at Kakamega General Hospital in the eye department.Growing up, I had eye issues. I was a bit disadvantaged when I was in high school. I could not do what my fellow students were able to do, [and I struggled to] see or read. And from then – when I used to visit the eye hospital – that is where I started to generate an interest in eye care. It has been awesome. ","story": "When I got my first case and I completed a surgery and the patient the next day was very happy, I think that was the best day of my life! The numbers of patients we are seeing here in the facility have really gone up because of what the community health promoters are doing within the county. Most of them are visiting the patients within the periphery and also the students in schools. And we find them the next week; they are coming in here. So when they come here, we are able to screen this person and probably pick up another condition apart from the refractive error that they’re having. So the impact is great, and we really appreciate that.  Within the staff, we are all very positive about this programme because it has increased our numbers. When you are seeing 10 people in a day and eventually you’re able to see 20, then you need to be happy about that because you’ve increased the chances of restoring vision to people.  I’m overwhelmed with what Sightsavers is doing within the county… in a short period of time [the project has been able] to reach out to so many people. Last week, on Thursday they saw 500 people. On Friday, they saw 300 people. Within a week you’re able to see 800, the number that we achieve here in a month. So you see, that is huge! I’m looking forward to a day when I’ll see this place is very big… what I want is for each and every person within the county to be able to access eye care services. © Sightsavers/ Samuel Otieno ","location": "Kakamega County, ","organisation": "Sightsavers","photographer": "","url": "robinson","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/11778/attachments/original/1779893639/ROB_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1779893639"}, {"date": "2026-05-27 15:57:00 +0100","title": "Sarah - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Restored Vision...Restored Independence Sarah's Story","content": "Sarah, farmer and grandmother Location: Kakamega County, Kenya. Organisation: SightsaversWhen I wake up, I clean the house, wash the dishes, go to the field, then I go to the market and prepare lunch for my in-laws. I had a problem with my eyes for the past two years. I couldn’t see very well and I was wondering what was going on. When I look at my book, I can’t see properly. When I put my credit on my phone, I can’t see properly. When I put thread on the needle I couldn’t see. That’s when I realised that my eyes have problems. I did not even go to the hospital because of my eyes. I used to feel like it was a normal thing, maybe because of my old age.  ","story": "The person who came to check my eyes took a picture. After taking that picture, it’s him who knew that I had eye problems. The day when I went to the hospital, they looked at my eyes and they prescribed glasses. And they asked me: “When you wear those glasses, can you see?” I told them I can see very clearly. When I was given the glasses, I felt very good. I can take care of other things without asking for help. I am happy, and now I am not worried because my eyes can see very well and I don’t have any problem. If a person tells me they have an eye problem, I will tell them to go to the hospital and see a doctor, so that they can help her.© Sightsavers/ Samuel Otieno ","location": "Kakamega County, Kenya. ","organisation": "Sightsavers","photographer": "","url": "sarah","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/11779/attachments/original/1779893829/S_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1779893829"}, {"date": "2026-08-21 16:03:00 +0100","title": "Gezachew - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Gezachew","content": "65-year-old farmerLocation: EthiopiaOrganisation: Cure Blindness ProjectFor an entire year, 65-year-old Ethiopian farmer Gezachew lived in near darkness after cataracts developed in both of his eyes. ","story": "<div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95808603 BCX4\">Farming had always been his life, but as his vision got worse, simple tasks became impossible. He could no longer care for his fields, harvest his crops, or provide for his family the way he once had. Losing his sight also took a toll on his confidence. As his productivity declined, financial pressures grew, and concerns about his family and what others might think kept him from seeking treatment. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95808603 BCX4\">Then everything changed.Gezachew heard about free cataract surgeries supported by Cure Blindness Project and decided to give it a chance. The surgery was a success. After months of living with blurred vision, he could finally see clearly again—the faces of his family, the land he loves, and the world around him.</div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95808603 BCX4\">Getting his sight back gave him so much more than better vision. It gave him hope. Today, Gezachew is excited to return to farming, support his family again, and enjoy the independence he thought he had lost.</div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95808603 BCX4\">His story is a beautiful reminder that restoring sight doesn't just help someone see again—it helps them regain their confidence, their livelihood, and the chance to look toward the future with hope. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95808603 BCX4\"> </div>","location": "Ethiopia","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "gezachew","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12705/attachments/original/1787068838/G_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1787068838"}, {"date": "2026-08-21 16:07:00 +0100","title": "Joshua - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Joshua","content": "68-year-old cataract patientLocation: KenyaOrganisation: Cure Blindness ProjectAt 68, Joshua was slowly losing sight to cataracts. Little by little, the world around him became harder to see. He couldn't clearly recognize the faces of his loved ones anymore or enjoy the beautiful landscape that had always been part of his daily life. With no specialized eye care available nearby, he spent months waiting and hoping for help.","story": "<div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144273376 BCX4\">Then something incredible happened. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144273376 BCX4\">During a Cure Blindness Project-supported outreach in Kenya, Joshua received sight-restoring cataract surgery. The procedure was quick, but the impact was life-changing. Before long, he could see clearly again. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144273376 BCX4\">Now, Joshua is back to enjoying the moments that matter most; seeing the smiles of his family, taking in the vibrant scenery around his home, and living with a renewed sense of independence and hope. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144273376 BCX4\">With a big smile, he says, \"I am happy to be able to see my family again.\" </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW144273376 BCX4\">Joshua's story is a reminder that restoring sight is about so much more than vision. It's about helping people reconnect with the people they love, regain their independence, and look to the future with hope. </div>","location": "Kenya","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "joshua","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12706/attachments/original/1787130113/JK_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1787130113"}, {"date": "2026-08-21 16:06:00 +0100","title": "Emefa - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Emefa","content": "36-year-old cataract patientLocation: GhanaOrganisation: Cure Blindness ProjectEmefa, 36, has faced more challenges than most. A devoted hairdresser and single mother, her life changed forever when her sister passed away. Without hesitation, Emefa welcomed her sister's baby into her home, becoming the sole provider for two young children.","story": "<div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW188960724 BCX4\">Then, another heartbreaking obstacle emerged. Emefa suddenly developed blurred vision in both eyes, and within weeks, she lost her sight completely. Unable to work, she could no longer support her family. The business she had built came to a standstill, and she and the children depended on the kindness of neighbors just to get by. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW188960724 BCX4\">Even in the darkest moments, Emefa held onto hope. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW188960724 BCX4\">With the opening of Cape Coast Teaching Hospital this spring, hope became reality. She underwent cataract surgery on her left eye at the new eye health center of excellence. Skilled surgeons performed the 10-minute surgery that restored her vision. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW188960724 BCX4\">For the first time in months, she could see again. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW188960724 BCX4\">\"I am so excited! Thank you for everything,\" Emefa says. \"I am looking forward to having surgery in my right eye and building my business so I can take care of my children.\" </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW188960724 BCX4\">Emefa is scheduled for her second surgery soon. With her sight fully restored, she can return to the work she loves, rebuild her business, and provide a brighter, more secure future for the two children who depend on her. </div>","location": "Ghana","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "emefa","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12733/attachments/original/1787130827/E_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1787130827"}, {"date": "2026-08-21 16:06:00 +0100","title": "Odelia - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Odelia","content": "10-month-old cataract patientLocation: GhanaOrganisation: Cure Blindness ProjectBorn premature, Odelia is small for her age and is slow to meet development milestones. Mom and baby have traveled a great distance to the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Upper East Region of Ghana to receive care for Odelia’s congenital cataracts.","story": "According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Report on Vision, young children with early onset severe vision impairment can experience delayed motor, language, emotional, social, and cognitive development, with lifelong consequences. Other studies show that children who can see learn twice as much as their blind classmates. “Coming here for the procedure has not been easy on my mind,” says her mother Madam Charity. “But I knew this would be an important moment in my daughter’s life.” Cure Blindness Project happily reports that today Odelia sees clearly and is back at home being doted on by her family.","location": "Ghana","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "odelia","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12734/attachments/original/1787131888/O_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1787131888"}, {"date": "2026-08-21 16:05:00 +0100","title": "Hussein - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Hussein","content": "75-year-old cataract patient Location: Tanzania Organisation: Cure Blindness ProjectTanzanian miner Hussein, 75, had unsuccessfully sought treatment three times for his mature cataracts before arriving at a Cure Blindness Project outreach.","story": "<div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW119175425 BCX4\">The week-long event, in partnership with Helen Keller International and the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, performed over 1000 sight-restoring surgeries to those living in and around Mbeya. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW119175425 BCX4\">Hussein underwent surgery and today sees clearly. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW119175425 BCX4\">“I want to share a message with others who might be suffering as I did,” he says. “Do not lose hope. If cataracts or any other affliction has taken your vision, seek treatment. Vision is the most important thing in life. It brings independence, confidence, and joy.” Cure Blindness Project couldn’t agree more. The NGO works in more than 30 low- and middle-income countries across South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America.</div>","location": "Tanzania ","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "hussein","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12735/attachments/original/1787132563/H_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1787132563"}, {"date": "2026-08-21 16:05:00 +0100","title": "Robert - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Robert","content": "65-year-old cataract patientLocation: GhanaOrganisation: Cure Blindness ProjectIt’s been 30 years since Ghanaian fisherman Robert remembers seeing clearly.","story": "<div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW113539326 BCX4\">“Whenever we returned from sea, I observed that it became increasingly challenging to maneuver my way without bumping into people,” he says. “It was a very unpleasant situation. To save myself from embarrassment, I would walk along the beach to work, avoiding people walking by the roads.” </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW113539326 BCX4\">Unable to continue his job as a fisherman, Robert lived under the care of his only brother for many years. When his brother recently passed away, he was left all alone. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW113539326 BCX4\">A free screening led by Cure Blindness Project partner Watborg Eye Clinic diagnosed Robert’s cataracts. Shortly after he was brought to the clinic for a free surgery to remove both. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW113539326 BCX4\">The energy of our mission fuels medical staff and doctors on long outreach days to ensure each patient receives the same high level of attention and care. They know ten minutes in the operating room will change a patient’s life forever.</div>","location": "Ghana","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "robert","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12736/attachments/original/1787133304/R_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1787133304"}, {"date": "2026-08-21 16:05:00 +0100","title": "Asma - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Asma","content": "10-year-old bilaterally blind cataract patient Location: EthiopiaOrganisation: Cure Blindness ProjectFor two years, ten-year-old Asma saw her world slowly fade into darkness. Cataracts in both eyes forced her to leave Grade 2, ending school and the simple joys of childhood. “She couldn’t even find things with her eyes,” her father, Mekasha, recalled. “She searched with her hands. It was heartbreaking for all of us.”","story": "<div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178630537 BCX4\">Determined to help his daughter, Mekasha traveled nearly 125 kilometers from Tenta Woreda to Boru Meda Hospital in Dessie after local health workers referred them there. Through the Cure Blindness Project outreach program, Asma was screened and later received life-changing surgery for bilateral cataracts. The operation restored sight to both of her eyes. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178630537 BCX4\">The change was immediate and unforgettable. Asma could finally see clearly again, walk with confidence, and smile without fear. For her father, it was the answer to countless prayers. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178630537 BCX4\">“Now she will continue her education and be happy,” Mekasha said with gratitude. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178630537 BCX4\">Today, Asma is looking ahead with hope. She can return to school, play with friends, and dream freely once more. What was once a future clouded by blindness is now filled with possibility. </div>","location": "Ethiopia","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "asma","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12737/attachments/original/1787134014/A_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1787134014"}, {"date": "2026-08-21 16:04:00 +0100","title": "Aheza - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Aheza","content": "45-year-old cataract patientLocation: BangladeshOrganisation: Cure Blindness ProjectFor 45-year-old Aheza from Bangladesh, losing vision in her left eye to cataract changed everything. With a husband who relied on her, even the simplest daily tasks became overwhelming.","story": "<div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229175207 BCX4\">“I couldn’t cook properly, clean the house, or see who was talking to me,” she said. “At meals, I’d even miss food on my own plate.” </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229175207 BCX4\">As her vision worsened, so did her worries. She wondered how long she could continue caring for her home and supporting her husband. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229175207 BCX4\">Then hope arrived through a free eye care outreach camp organized by Quasem Foundation and supported by Cure Blindness Project. Although she was nervous, Aheza decided to go. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229175207 BCX4\">“I prayed to Allah for one thing—let me see again.” </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229175207 BCX4\">Her prayer was answered. After successful cataract surgery, she opened her eyes and saw her husband's face clearly for the first time in a long while. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229175207 BCX4\">“I laughed and cried,” she recalled. “It felt like a dream.” </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229175207 BCX4\">Today, Aheza has regained not only her sight but also her independence. She can cook, clean, recognize her neighbors, and confidently manage her daily life again. </div><div class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW229175207 BCX4\">Filled with gratitude, she thanks God and the medical team who restored her vision. Her message to others is simple: “Don't ignore your eyes. Go get help.”</div>","location": "Bangladesh","organisation": "Cure Blindness Project","photographer": "","url": "aheza","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12738/attachments/original/1787134265/AZ_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1787134265"}, {"date": "2026-08-25 15:47:24 +0100","title": "Mussa - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Mussa","content": "Location: TanzaniaOrganisation: Charity VisionMeet Mussa, a 10-year-old boy from Tanzania. Mussa lives with his uncle and, like many children in his village, spent his days helping to feed the family’s cows. Three years ago, while out in the bush grazing cattle, Mussa was accidentally hit in the eye by a cow’s leg. What first seemed like an injury slowly turned into a traumatic cataract that severely affected his vision.","story": "As his sight worsened, Mussa could no longer see properly in class and was eventually forced to stop going to school. Life became difficult, and for years he lived without hope of seeing clearly again. Everything changed during the cataract outreach camp in Dongobesh, where Charity Vision's partners at Majay Foundation helped make sight-restoring surgery possible for children and adults in need. Today, Mussa can see again. His smile, confidence, and hope for the future have returned. He is now looking forward to going back to school and continuing his education.","location": "Tanzania","organisation": "Charity Vision","photographer": "","url": "mussa","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12865/attachments/original/1787669054/M_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1787669054"}, {"date": "2026-09-08 10:18:40 +0100","title": "Ram Beti - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Ram Beti","content": "Location: IndiaOrganisation: Peek Vision (with Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital)Ram Beti lives in a rural village in Uttar Pradesh, India, where she cares for her family and manages her home. Over the years, reading and household chores like sorting grain became increasingly difficult. She didn't know it was something that could be fixed.","story": "That changed when a community health worker from Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital visited her home as part of a door-to-door eye health programme. Using the Peek app, the community health worker tested Ram Beti's eyesight and referred her to a nearby vision centre. There, she received a pair of subsidised glasses to correct her near vision and help restore her independence. “I used to have to get my sons to read everything for me, such as labels and other texts. Now I can do this and many other tasks myself, which is a relief. I think it is great that the household screening is happening in this community as it is helping to identify eye issues before they become a serious problem.”","location": "India","organisation": "Peek Vision (with Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital)","photographer": "","url": "ram_beti","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/12964/attachments/original/1788859082/RB_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1788859082"}, {"date": "2026-09-15 10:13:40 +0100","title": "Ashmita - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Ashmita","content": "Location: NepalProfessional who works in eye health and developmentIn the remote Himalayan region of Taplejung, a simple eye examination can change a child’s future. This moment reflects the urgent need for accessible eye care, where even basic vision correction can unlock learning, confidence, and opportunity for children growing up in underserved communities. ","story": "In this moment, a young child from the remote Himalayan region of Taplejung sits quietly during an eye examination, wearing a trial frame for the very first time. There is curiosity in those eyes—perhaps seeing the world more clearly than ever before.In these mountainous communities, access to even basic eye care services remains a challenge. Long travel distances, difficult terrain, and limited awareness often prevent families from seeking timely eye examinations. As a result, many children grow up with uncorrected vision problems, unaware that their difficulties in learning or daily activities could be easily treated.This image reflects more than just a screening—it represents access, awareness, and possibility. For a child like this, a simple pair of glasses can transform not only vision but also confidence, education, and future opportunities.Through outreach programs in regions like Taplejung, we strive to bridge this gap by bringing eye care services closer to the community. Because every child, no matter how remote their home, deserves the chance to see clearly and live fully.","location": "Nepal","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "ashmita","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13064/attachments/original/1789463601/A_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1789463601"}, {"date": "2026-09-15 10:16:31 +0100","title": "Terry - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Terry","content": "Location: KenyaProfessional who works in eye health and developmentThrough free Sunday eye camps and cataract surgeries at Lions Medical Centre, we restore sight, dignity, and hope to underserved communities in Kenya’s Coast region. ","story": "At Lions Medical Centre, we aim to bring hope to people whose lives have been quietly affected by poor vision. Every Sunday, we hold free eye camps for communities that often have little or no access to eye care. Many of the people who come to us have lived for years with cataracts, struggling to work, care for their families, or move through daily life with dignity.What stays with me most is the moment a patient learns that their sight can be restored. When we identify those needing surgery, transport them to Lions Medical Centre, and provide free cataract operations, we are doing more than medical treatment; we are giving back independence, confidence, and hope. I have seen the relief on the faces of patients and families when vision returns, and it reminds me that sight can change everything.This work is only possible because of donations and the generosity of partners who believe that no one should lose vision because they are poor or far from care. I share this story to show that with compassion, outreach, and support, avoidable blindness can be overcome, and lives can be transformed.","location": "Kenya","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "terry","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13065/attachments/original/1789463784/T_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1789463784"}, {"date": "2026-10-06 11:29:11 +0100","title": "Paloma - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Paloma","content": "Location: SpainOrganisation: SERMASProfessional who works in eye health and developmentNuestro taller de Atención Primaria ayudó a las personas a identificar sus dificultades, acceder a rehabilitación visual y apoyo social, y demostró que la autonomía, la seguridad y la dignidad se pueden proteger mediante una atención coordinada y centrada en la persona. ","story": "El taller educativo grupal en baja visión nace desde Atención Primaria como respuesta a una necesidad frecuentemente invisible: personas con pérdida visual que conservan resto visual, pero presentan dificultades relevantes para leer, desplazarse, manejar la medicación, orientarse, cocinar o participar en la vida social. La experiencia con adultos con baja visión, utilizó una metodología participativa, se combinaron educación sanitaria, escucha activa, intercambio de experiencias, identificación de barreras y orientación hacia recursos sanitarios, sociales y comunitarios. El taller permitió visibilizar necesidades de los participantes, especialmente relacionadas con autonomía, seguridad, impacto emocional y desconocimiento de los apoyos disponibles. Desde esta perspectiva, se incorporó la importancia del acompañamiento psicológico ante el duelo visual y la pérdida de independencia, el acceso a trabajo social para orientar sobre discapacidad, dependencia y recursos, y la conexión con apoyos comunitarios y asociativos. Asimismo, se promovió la rehabilitación visual como intervención clave para optimizar el resto visual, entrenar habilidades funcionales y recuperar actividades significativas, mostrando el potencial de Atención Primaria como puerta de entrada a una atención integral, humanizada y centrada en la persona.","location": "Spain","organisation": "SERMAS","photographer": "","url": "paloma","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13066/attachments/original/1791282430/P_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1791282430"}, {"date": "2026-09-15 10:22:31 +0100","title": "Shazia - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Shazia","content": "Location: TanzaniaProfessional who works in eye health and developmentHe could barely see and always needed someone to guide him. After cataract surgery on both eyes, he received the gift of sight. He started walking by himself, smiling and proud of his independence. It made me realise this gift changes not only what someone sees but who they become.","story": "At the Mo Dewji eye health camp in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, I met a man who could not see clearly out of either eye. He could only make out shapes and movement, so someone had to guide him by holding his arm. That day, he had cataract surgery on one eye. The next day, he came back to schedule surgery for his other eye, and I almost didn't recognise him. He walked in on his own, smiling, and went straight to the registration desk to handle everythinghimself, even though only one eye had been treated so far. He later had surgery on his second eye too. The man I saw after both surgeries was completely different from the one who first arrived. He stood taller, walked with confidence, and laughed easily. He no longer needed anyone’s help and was truly himself again. I have worked in health programs and seen plenty of data, from surgery counts to targets met. But nothing shows the true impact like watching a man walk in on his own, smiling because he can see again. He didn’t just get his sight back; he found himself again.","location": "Tanzania","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "shazia","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13067/attachments/original/1789464137/S_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1789464137"}, {"date": "2026-09-15 10:31:06 +0100","title": "Artelus - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Artelus","content": "Location: IndiaHealthcare or eye health practitionerOur mission is to bridge the gap in eye care by conducting retinal screening camps in remote and underserved communities across India, ensuring that early detection, awareness, and timely referrals are accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live.","story": "In many remote and underserved parts of India, access to quality eye care remains a challenge. For thousands of people, a retinal screening is often unavailable until vision problems begin, by which time the damage may already be irreversible. Artelus is changing this reality by taking AI-powered retinal screening directly to communities across India. At a recent screening camp, over **450 people** underwent comprehensive eye examinations. For many, it was their first retinal screening. Some were diagnosed with previously undetected eye conditions, while others received timely referrals, giving them a second chance at sight through early diagnosis and treatment. Beyond screening, Artelus is committed to educating communities about diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases, helping people understand that diabetes can silently affect vision without early symptoms. Every camp is a step towards preventing avoidable blindness through awareness, early detection, and timely intervention. Because we believe everyone, regardless of where they live, deserves access to quality eye care.","location": "India","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "artelus","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13070/attachments/original/1789464656/A_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1789464656"}, {"date": "2026-09-15 10:33:02 +0100","title": "Tessa - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Tessa","content": "Location: United KingdomA small change in my vision led to an ocular-melanoma diagnosis and the removal of my left eye within two weeks. I now live with monocular vision and a prosthetic left eye - learning daily to navigate a permanently altered world with honesty, humour and resilience.","story": "In 2024, a change in my vision while out running led to a diagnosis of ocular melanoma. Within just three weeks, I had undergone surgery to remove my left eye. It was a huge shock: not simply the loss of an eye, but an immediate and irreversible change to how I see, move through and make sense of the world. I now live with monocular vision and a bespoke prosthetic eye. This is not sight loss that can be corrected with treatment, glasses or time; it is an unavoidable, permanent adjustment. Everyday things - judging distance, navigating crowds, climbing Kilimanjaro (summited Feb 2026!), confidence and how I am seen by others - all require more thought than they once did. As a communications professional, I had spent my career helping others find clarity in difficult moments. Living through cancer and life-changing surgery made that intensely personal. I want to share my experience to raise awareness of ocular melanoma, encourage people to take changes in vision seriously, and ensure that the human reality of sight loss is better understood.","location": "United Kingdom","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "tessa","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13071/attachments/original/1789464764/T_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1789464764"}, {"date": "2026-09-15 10:38:18 +0100","title": "Sumaiya and Habiba - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Sumaiya and Habiba","content": "Location: BangladeshOrganisation: Fred Hollows FoundationTale of Two Sisters For over seven years, sisters Sumaiya and Habiba lived in darkness, isolated by congenital cataracts. Through The Fred Hollows Foundation and the ANCP, both received free surgery — travel and accommodation covered. After years of dependency, the smiles on their faces have finally returned.","story": "Sisters Sumaiya Hossain (17) and Habiba Hossain (14) have been blind for over 7 years due to congenital cataracts. Through The Fred Hollows Foundation and the ANCP-funded program, they received cataract surgery at Mazharul Haque BNSB Hospital in Chandpur, which included their travel and accommodation expenses. It was a great support to the family. Their father Awlad said, \"As a father, it is a kind of celebration to see them happy again.\" After years of living in isolation and dependency, the girls have a new chance in life, and the smiles on their faces have finally returned.","location": "Bangladesh","organisation": "Fred Hollows Foundation","photographer": "","url": "sumaiyahabiba","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13072/attachments/original/1789465090/S_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1789465090"}, {"date": "2026-09-15 10:40:49 +0100","title": "Lorenna - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Lorenna","content": "Location: BrazilFamily memberCongenital glaucoma changed Lorenna's life from her very first days, but it has never taken away her joy. Early diagnosis, continuous treatment, and hope are giving her the chance to keep discovering the world.","story": "My name is Larissa, and I am Lorenna's mother. I want to share my daughter's story to raise awareness about congenital glaucoma and show how early diagnosis and continuous treatment can change a child's life.Shortly after Lorenna was born, we noticed that something was different about her eyes. What followed was a difficult journey of medical appointments, examinations, and uncertainty. After about fifteen days, we finally found a glaucoma specialist who confirmed the diagnosis of congenital glaucoma.The pressure inside Lorenna's eyes was dangerously high, and she needed emergency surgery immediately. Since then, she has undergone four eye surgeries and continues to require lifelong follow-up care to preserve the vision she still has.Today, at three years old, Lorenna attends school, participates in classroom activities with the support of dedicated caregivers, and faces every day with joy and determination. Although her low vision limits her independence, it has never diminished her curiosity, her love of learning, or her desire to explore the world.As her mother, I hope Lorenna's story helps more people understand congenital glaucoma and reminds them that early diagnosis and access to continuous treatment can change a child's future.","location": "Brazil","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "lorenna","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13073/attachments/original/1789465236/L_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1789465236"}, {"date": "2026-09-15 16:11:33 +0100","title": "Zainab - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Zainab","content": "Location: NigeriaOrganisation: Federal University Teaching HospitalHealthcare or eye health practitionerSome years ago, before I travelled for my training, I met a trader in the market who caught my attention. I noticed she was using dark goggles while working in her stall which I inquired about and she said was to avoid glare in the afternoon's bright sunlight. ","story": "So I asked her to visit the eye clinic in the hospital I work for possible cataract surgery. Few years later when I returned, she was comfortably going about her activities without the goggles and she told me she had accessed treatment as I had advised. So I smiled within me feeling fulfilled.","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "Federal University Teaching Hospital","photographer": "","url": "zainab","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13096/attachments/original/1789485083/Z_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1789485083"}, {"date": "2026-09-22 11:59:54 +0100","title": "Leticia - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Leticia","content": "Location: BoliviaOrganisation: Eyes of the World FoundationNo child should lose their sight because they lack access to eye care. Leticia’s story shows how early detection and simple interventions can transform a child’s future. It restored her sight, allowing her to learn, grow and thrive, while also changing the lives of her family and community.","story": "Leticia is an 8-year-old girl who lives with her family in a rural community in Bolivia, in a remote area with limited resources and services. On her way to school, she began experiencing discomfort in her eyes; her vision was blurred, she would trip over, and she felt as though there was something in her eye.Her teacher, who had received basic training in eye health through the Eyes of Bolivia programme, noticed that she was struggling to see and had difficulty keeping up in class. With the support of the Eyes of the world Foundation, Leticia was examined by a specialist team and underwent cataract surgery.This is one of many cases of children living in vulnerable areas where an undiagnosed eye condition can lead to blindness. By improving access to eye health services, we can prevent thousands of people from suffering vision problems caused by preventable or treatable conditions.A change like this can ensure her independence, opportunities, and future.","location": "Bolivia","organisation": "Eyes of the World Foundation","photographer": "","url": "leticia","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13261/attachments/original/1790074741/L_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1790074741"}, {"date": "2026-09-25 14:03:00 +0100","title": "Jovita - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Jovita","content": "Location: NigeriaAn optometrist in a rural world that helps to educate people about their eyes, hoping to do more in the World Sight Day.","story": "I work in a deep rural area in Nigeria, a lot of people here are visually impaired and have poor knowledge about their eyes, so an optometrist I tried to help a lot of them by educating them about their sights also treat as much as I can. I tried to make them believe that using the right medication for your sight matters a lot. During this world sight day I believe am going to go places (more rural locations) to educate them about their sights also help in treatment.","location": "Nigeria","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "jovita","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13361/attachments/original/1790341378/J_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1790341378"}, {"date": "2026-10-01 07:00:00 +0100","title": "Diane - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Geographic Atrophy","content": "<img title=\"Diane\" src=\"https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13361/attachments/original/1790835757/Diane-wall.jpg?1790835757\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"785\"> DianeAt the age of 54, Diane was diagnosed with Geographic Atrophy after a routine eye examination. Initially reassured that the condition might not progress, she continued working, driving and enjoy her hobbies such as photography and writing. After a decade, Diane began to notice significant changes in her vision as the condition advanced.","story": "Today, Geographic Atrophy affects nearly every aspect of her independence. She can no longer drive and struggles to read, use her phone and safely manage household tasks. While magnifiers, smartphone accessibility tools, and AIenabled glasses provide some assistance, they now offer only limited support.At the age of 54, Diane was diagnosed with Geographic Atrophy after a routine eye examination. Initially reassured that the condition might not progress, she continued working, driving and enjoy her hobbies such as photography and writing. After a decade, Diane began to notice significant changes in her vision as the condition advanced. Today, Geographic Atrophy affects nearly every aspect of her independence. She can no longer drive and struggles to read, use her phone and safely manage household tasks. While magnifiers, smartphone accessibility tools, and AIenabled glasses provide some assistance, they now offer only limited support.After her diagnosis, Diane wasn’t clearly informed of how progressive the condition could become and only gained a fuller understanding through her own research and engagement with patient communities. Although she received regular monitoring, she was not systematically guided toward low vision rehabilitation, assistive technologies, or emotional support services. “Geographic Atrophy is not simply a condition of vision loss, it affects every dimension of life... The emotional and psychological burden is as significant as the physical limitations.” Diane calls for earlier and more honest communication about the disease progression, better access to rehabilitation and practical support service, and stronger peer support systems to help patients navigate the emotional and daily challenges of vision loss.","location": "","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "diane","image": ""}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:12:00 +0100","title": "Rosmeri - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Rosmeri","content": "Location: Peru, LimaOrganisation: RestoringVision\"Thanks to the glasses I've been given, I can now see much more clearly. I won't have trouble seeing up close or headaches anymore.\"","story": "For five years, Rosmeri Loayza Osorio has been part of the \"Community Pots,\" supported by Peru's Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS)'s Food Supplementation Program in Lurigancho-Chosica, Lima. Over time, seeing up close became harder. Small print blurred. Straining to read gave her dizziness and headaches, turning an everyday pleasure into something she dreaded.Rosmeri's experience is a textbook case of presbyopia: the natural, age-related loss of near vision that affects nearly everyone as they age. Left uncorrected, it can lower quality of life. The fix, though, is simple: a pair of near-vision eyeglasses.Through RestoringVision's partnership with MSH Perú and MIDIS, a campaign in Lurigancho-Chosica brought free vision screenings and near-vision eyeglasses to more than 2,000 people since April, part of a broader partnership that has reached over 700,000 people across Peru to date. Rosmeri was one of them.\"I'm very grateful for this great support they're giving us with this campaign,\" she said. \"I had trouble reading up close; some small print was hard for me to see. I felt dizzy when I tried to read.\"Now, that discomfort is gone. \"Thanks to the glasses I've been given, I can now see much more clearly,\" she said.","location": "Peru, Lima","organisation": "RestoringVision","photographer": "","url": "rosmeri","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13525/attachments/original/1791213132/R_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1791213132"}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:14:00 +0100","title": "Vania - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Vania","content": "Location: Dominica RepublicOrganisation: RestoringVision\"Receiving these glasses today was a wonderful surprise, because I did not know that vision screenings would also be offered.\"","story": "Vania Jean Charles used to clean houses for a living. About five years ago, a workplace accident changed her daily life: cleaning solution splashed into her eyes, leaving them watering constantly. She also noticed reading up close had become a struggle.At a vision screening in her community, Vania was diagnosed with presbyopia, the age-related loss of near vision, and left with eyedrops for the cleaning accident and her first new pair of glasses in a year. Vania's eyeglasses were provided through RestoringVision's partnership with Hospital El Buen Samaritano in the Dominican Republic\"I have been without glasses for almost a year because, although they are very important to me, I am currently unemployed and there are other priorities,\" Vania said. \"Receiving these glasses today was a wonderful surprise because I did not know that vision screenings would also be offered. Thank you so much for coming to help those of us who need it most.\"","location": "Dominica Republic","organisation": "RestoringVision","photographer": "","url": "vania","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13526/attachments/original/1791213289/V_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1791213289"}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:19:47 +0100","title": "Valentina - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Valentina","content": "Location: Peru, LimaOrganisation: RestoringVision\"Not only will I be able to read, but I'll also be able to help with my children's homework again.\"","story": "Valentina Ancasi Fernández has relied on the Community Kitchens run by Peru's Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS) for six years, part of a program that brings food assistance and basic healthcare to her community in Lurigancho-Chosica, Lima. As her near vision faded, one of her favorite activities became difficult: reading, both alone and with her children. She could no longer help them with homework the way she used to.Through RestoringVision's partnership with MSH Perú and MIDIS, a vision-screening campaign came to her community, and Valentina received her first pair of near-vision eyeglasses. \"I have difficulty seeing up close and reading, and these glasses are a great support so that I don't have to give up this activity that I enjoy so much,\" she said.The impact went beyond the page. \"Not only will I be able to read, but I'll also be able to help with my children's homework again,\" Valentina said. \"This experience of getting free reading glasses is very rewarding.\"Her story is one of more than 2,000 people in Lurigancho-Chosica who have received near-vision eyeglasses or UV-protective sunglasses through this partnership since April.","location": "Peru, Lima","organisation": "RestoringVision","photographer": "","url": "valentina","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13527/attachments/original/1791213574/VT_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1791213574"}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:35:49 +0100","title": "Manish - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Manish","content": "Location: NepalHealthcare or eye health practitioner\"Global Expertise. Local Impact\"","story": "Bringing world-class vision care home to Nepal. I believe vision is far more than seeing clearly. It is about how we learn, connect, and experience life.As an optometrist, I am passionate about binocular vision, vision development, vision therapy, and neuro-vision rehabilitation. At the time when these specializations were still emerging in Nepal, I pursued advanced international training and became Nepal’s first Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), now OVDRA.I brought that knowledge home with a purpose: to make specialized vision care more accessible to those in need and lay the foundational stones in the field that could grow beyond me. I have had the privilege of treating more than 3,500 children and adults through over 300,000 vision therapy sessions, helping patients overcome functional visual challenges. My journey extends beyond clinical care. As an Assistant Professor of Optometry and Vision Science at NAMS, Bir Hospital, Nepal, I teach and mentor future optometrists, helping develop the next generation of vision-care professionals.This World Sight Day, I share my story because every story counts and lasting change begins when knowledge is shared, opportunities are created, and one person’s journey inspires many others.","location": "Nepal","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "manish","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13528/attachments/original/1791214538/M_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1791214538"}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:39:11 +0100","title": "Ashmita - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Ashmita","content": "Location: NepalHealthcare or eye health practitionerBy turning global training into local action, we built a supportive peer network that transforms isolation into strength, empowering female health workers in Nepal to step into leadership, rediscover their passion, and build a stronger, more equitable eye care system for our communities.","story": "When I started introducing Women Leaders in Eye Health (WLEH) online in Nepal, my goal was clear: to stop talented women from quitting or leaving due to male-dominated institutional pressures. What began as a virtual meeting of just three of us has transformed into a resilient movement. Together, we organized our first school workshop with over 100 participants—mostly mothers—which deeply solidified my commitment to empowering women at the grassroots level. Since then, we have distributed leadership by training colleagues to facilitate their own peer circles, expanding our reach through continuous connection, networking, and structured mentorship. The most rewarding achievement is the profound transition I see every day. Juniors who were once hesitant are now stepping forward as vocal leaders, and colleagues who felt disillusioned have rediscovered their love for the profession. By building a supportive network that turns isolation into strength, we are proving that retaining and elevating female health workers creates a stronger, more compassionate eye care system for Nepal.","location": "Nepal","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "ashmitam","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13529/attachments/original/1791214739/A_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1791214739"}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:41:16 +0100","title": "Hendry - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Hendry","content": "Location: IndonesiaEye care must shift from medical paternalism to inclusion. Because visual impairments are often invisible, public awareness on blindness and low vision is vital. True inclusion demands services beyond clinical treatment: providing rehabilitation, accurate data, and records that serve as essential prerequisites to access our rights.","story": "Growing up, my vision differed from peers, yet \"loss\" was never my reality—it was simply my world. The pressure to fix it belonged entirely to systems outside me. In late 2003 at age 11, discovering low-vision services reframed everything: shifting our collective focus from chasing a cure to maximizing the vision I possessed.By 2020, my spectacles brought my vision to 3/60 from 1/60 unaided. While these lenses offered real utility, they engineered a dangerous invisibility: their ordinary facade masked the severe low vision of my retinitis pigmentosa, hiding my tunnel vision from an uninformed public and inviting everyday harm. To shatter that forced concealment, I carry the white cane—my tool for mobility and an undeniable identifier.Inclusive eye care must transcend clinical treatment and blindness prevention into comprehensive rehabilitative care—guiding us in selecting assistive devices, adapting environments, and navigating life. True inclusion also demands administrative justice: issuing precise medical records and supporting letters for employment and education that bridge clinical reality with bureaucratic demands, preventing ignorance or clinical jargon from disqualifying us.","location": "Indonesia","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "hendry","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13530/attachments/original/1791214868/H_MAIN_IMAGE.jpeg?1791214868"}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:43:37 +0100","title": "Pushpa - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Pushpa","content": "Location: NepalNepal Eye Program, Tilgagna Institute of Ophthalmology The Nepal Eye Program, Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, continues to contribute to reducing avoidable blindness by bringing quality eye care and sight-restoring cataract surgery to underserved and remote communities across Nepal.","story": "For people living in Nepal’s remote mountainous communities, accessing quality eye care can be a significant challenge. Distance, difficult terrain, and limited access to services can prevent people from receiving timely treatment for avoidable blindness. The Nepal Eye Program, Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (NEP–TIO), is committed to reducing avoidable blindness by bringing essential eye care services closer to underserved communities. Through its extensive community outreach program, NEP–TIO performs around 20,000 cataract surgeries annually, particularly reaching people living in remote, rural, and marginalized communities across Nepal. As part of this continued commitment, the Solu Periodic Outreach Microsurgical Eye Camp (OMEC) was conducted in Phaplu, Solukhumbu, on 22–23 September 2026. Patients from different remote parts of the district were screened through the Comprehensive Eye Screening Program and referred for further treatment. During the two-day camp, 62 sight-restoring cataract surgeries were successfully performed, giving people the opportunity to regain their vision and improve their quality of life. We sincerely thank the surgical, outreach, hospital, and support teams, local stakeholders, Cure Blindness Project, and Good Vision Nepal for their valuable support in making quality eye care accessible to those who need it most.","location": "Nepal","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "pushpa","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13531/attachments/original/1791215009/P_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1791215009"}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:48:51 +0100","title": "Kasia - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Kasia","content": "Location: United StatesMost retinal diseases are found too late because the current tests rely heavily on imaging. I believe we should add affordable functional testing to the standard of care. Improving early diagnosis and prevention may help slow the vision-loss epidemic driven by aging societies.","story": "For many patients, night vision loss is the earliest alarm indicating retinal dysfunction. A patient might walk into an eye clinic and read a perfect 20/20 on the standard chart, but they will also report, \"I can see fine in the exam room, but I can't drive at night.\" This symptom, known as nyctalopia, is often dismissed as a normal sign of aging, but it is actually a critical, the earliest warning of retinal dysfunction. This is how many retinal diseases begin, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, which continue to grow as societies age. Most retinal diseases are found too late because the standard of care relies heavily on imaging tests. Imaging tools like OCT and fundus photography confirm structural damage that has already occurred. By the time a scan looks abnormal, the patient has already lost crucial time. I lead a company that wants to change that. We use photoreceptor science to develop portable, affordable devices that test and quantify retinal function. We hope it will help more patients discover retinal diseases earlier and reduce the risk of structural damage and vision loss.","location": "United States","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "kasia","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13532/attachments/original/1791215325/K_MAIN_IMAGE.png?1791215325"}, {"date": "2026-10-05 16:52:49 +0100","title": "Wekwanya - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Wekwanya","content": "Location: UgandaHealthcare or eye health practitioner Wekwanya comes from a humble family and is a passionate health advocate, content creator, and founder. He founded GAF Medical Videos on YouTube and GAF Eye Health Foundation. His contribution to health education and innovation earned him recognition through a Uganda Ministry of Health HIHA award.","story": "Wekwanya Ambrose is a passionate health advocate, content creator, and founder whose journey is rooted in humble beginnings and a strong desire to make a difference in the community.Coming from a humble family, Ambrose developed a deep interest in healthcare and community service. His passion for sharing health information and creating awareness led him to establish GAF Medical Videos, a YouTube platform dedicated to sharing medical and health-related information with the public.Through his work, Ambrose has continued to use digital media to promote health education, create awareness about eye health, and connect communities with important health information. His commitment to improving access to healthcare information eventually inspired him to establish the GAF Eye Health Foundation, an organization focused on improving eye health and supporting communities through eye-care","location": "Uganda","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "wekwanya","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13534/attachments/original/1791215561/W_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1791215561"}, {"date": "2026-10-06 11:22:30 +0100","title": "Karola - International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness","headline": "Karola","content": "Location: Latvia Healthcare or eye health practitionerHealthy vision should never be taken for granted. Combining clinical practice, teaching, and research, I am helping to improve eye health in Latvia, and one day hope to participate in a charity initiative providing eye care to underserved communities worldwide.","story": "I am an optometrist and vision science researcher at the University of Latvia. My daily work combines academic research, teaching students, and clinical practice with patients. For me, working directly with patients is the most rewarding part of all, because seeing firsthand how proper vision correction transforms and improves a person's everyday life is deeply fulfilling. Teaching students adds meaning to my work at another level, as I can help shape and guide the next generation of eye care specialists, and doing research allows me to contribute and push the boundaries of our field by investigating new clinical approaches. The accessibility of eye care services in Latvia is relatively high, but I wish people would appreciate and utilize these resources more actively, as many still neglect regular preventive check-ups, leading to delayed diagnoses and a reduced quality of life. Thinking globally, I deeply empathize with regions where there are barriers for accessing eye care services, therefore, one day, I hope to participate in an international charity initiative to help provide eye care in countries with critically low accessibility.","location": "Latvia ","organisation": "","photographer": "","url": "karola","image": "https://assets.nationbuilder.com/iapb/pages/13561/attachments/original/1791282138/K_MAIN_IMAGE.jpg?1791282138"}]

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