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.  

“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