Catezelle, or "Cate," is a three-year-old girl from the Philippines who loves to dance and play with her friends. She lives in a bamboo house with her family. Cate's mother is a laborer on a farm, but she doesn't make enough money to adequately feed her family. As a result, Cate is severely acutely malnourished. In communities served by Watsi's medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), one out of five children under the age of five is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, lack of clean water and unsanitary environments increase the risk of potentially fatal childhood diseases. Cate's malnutrition must be addressed in order to prevent further physical and mental developmental delays. On October 19, she began a $268 home-based feeding program. This program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure that Cate returns to a normal weight for her age. In addition to the food packs, Cate will receive weekly visits from ICM staff and community volunteers to monitor her progress in the program. To help sustain her health in the long term, ICM's professional staff will educate Cate's family members about proper nutrition, organic vegetable gardening, sanitation, and hygiene.

"I always wanted to go into the beauty industry. I dream of one day owning a small beauty shop," says Mary, a 29-year-old wife and mother of two from Kenya. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us, “Mary started losing feeling in her legs a couple of years ago. She is now no longer able to walk or feel her legs.” Mary’s condition is the result of a brain tumor compressing the area of her brain that controls leg movement. The recommended treatment for Mary is a craniotomy—a surgical procedure in which doctors open the skull to access the brain and them remove the tumor. “If the surgery is not done soon,” explains AMHF, “Mary is likely to suffer permanent brain damage and/or death.” For $1,205 in funding, Mary can undergo the needed surgery. Mary’s family members and friends have raised $325 to cover any additional medical costs. “We expect that after the surgery and treatment, Mary will regain use of her legs, and she will be able to work towards her dream of becoming a small business owner,” AMHF shares. Let’s help Mary get the surgery she needs!