Joyce is a 12-year-old from Kenya. She is a sixth grader who loves Math. Joyce is the firstborn in a family of two children and is being raised by her single mother, who relies on casual farming jobs to provide for the family. As Joyce was growing up, developmental milestones were noticeably delayed. She sat independently at nearly one year of age and began walking when she was almost two years old. By the age of three, she could only speak a few simple words. Relieved that her daughter had finally started talking, her mother enrolled her in school. Once Joyce began primary school, her teachers noticed that she had difficulty hearing. At home, her mother also realised she often had to repeat herself several times before Joyce understood what was being said. "The teacher gives her tasks, but she struggles with almost everything. I am so worried," her mother says. Although she is eager to learn and loves reading, her untreated hearing loss makes it hard for her to understand classroom instructions, causing her to fall behind academically. "Joyce loves reading, but she cannot understand the instructions she is given, so she is falling behind," her mother explains. Joyce was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for specialized care. She was diagnosed with hearing loss and was advised to use hearing aids to improve her hearing and communication. Unfortunately, the cost of the hearing aids is far beyond what her family can afford. On July 7th, Joyce will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting help raising $1,171. The hearing aids will give Joyce a better chance to fully participate in class, excel in her education, and pursue her dreams with confidence. "I love mathematics," Joyce says with a smile. "One day, I want to become a teacher so I can help children learn and enjoy mathematics just as much as I do."

Gilbert is 65 years old and a retired secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and a father of five children. His wife is a farmer. Six years ago, Gilbert began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on his neck. He visited the hospital, where he was diagnosed with recurrent follicular neoplasia of the thyroid. His medical history shows that he previously had a goiter in 1978, which was surgically removed, and he remained well afterwards. In 2023, Gilbert's condition worsened. After several tests, he was then started on chemotherapy for follicular thyroid disease and completed six cycles. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, for surgery and specialized care. He was diagnosed with a goiter, which is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. He needs surgery to prevent his symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Gilbert receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 7th. Surgeons will remove all or part of his thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and he and his family need help raising money. Gilbert shared, "My condition has brought in more pain to my retirement life, ending up draining all my resources on hospital support; kindly help me to get better and get away with the stigma around me, said Gilbert during assessment."

Ei is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. Ei lives with her husband, young brother, sister-in-law, and 1-year-old niece. Ei owns a shop and sells dry foods, snacks, and juice with her sister-in-law. Her husband and younger brother work as motorcycle taxi drivers. Ei’s family’s combined monthly income is just enough to meet their basic needs. They have limited access to healthcare and purchase medication from a local shop whenever they are sick. In December 2025, Ei experienced intense pain from a mass on her leg. She has difficulty walking and has noticed her condition is worsening. Ei traveled to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, to receive care, and on May 7th, surgeons will remove the mass. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Ei's procedure and provide her relief from the impact of the mass and prevent other health complications. Ei said, “I felt really stressed when the cold weather came, and felt uncomfortable because I couldn’t walk as other people do. I’ve changed my mind and gathered the strength for my surgery, and I want to walk normally without the pain. I am happy to receive the support from BCMF and the donors for my surgery.”

Mohamed is a cheerful and curious little boy from Ethiopia. At 11 months of age, he lives with his parents, older brother and twin sister in a small, rented house. His mother is a dedicated homemaker, while his father runs a small neighborhood shop, doing his best to support the family. The whole household buzzed with excitement as they awaited the arrival of the twins. However, soon after Mohamed’s birth, his parents discovered something unexpected. During a routine check before his planned circumcision, doctors found that one of Mohamed’s testicles had not descended into the scrotum. At first, his mother was shocked and chose not to proceed with the circumcision. The hospital where he was born advised her to wait until Mohamed was six months old, as the condition can sometimes resolve on its own within the first few months of life. When there was no change, she took him back for follow-up care at the local health center. The staff then referred them to a larger referral hospital, where another series of examinations and follow-ups ensued. Due to long waiting lists, the family had to wait for a phone call to inform them when it would be their turn for treatment. Three months later, that call finally came, informing them that Mohamed’s case had been referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Mohamed was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Mohamed has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Mohamed is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on April 7th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,073 to cover the total cost of Mohamed's procedure and care. Mohamed's mother said: "May Allah safeguard my child and grant him a successful recovery from the surgery. May He bless you all for your compassionate support."

Teresu is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. Growing up in a farming community, Teresu spends much of his time helping with crop cultivation, an important source of livelihood for his family. He has never attended school but actively contributes to family work in the fields. Teresu has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, is a condition where the knees angle inward and touch while the ankles remain apart. His right leg is however more severely affected than the left. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. The condition has caused Teresu discomfort during long hours of standing and walking, limiting his ability to work and participate in daily activities. Despite the challenges, he remains hardworking and hopeful. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Teresu. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 6th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Teresu's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Teresu says, “I want to walk and work without pain, so I can help my family better.”

Clemence is a small-scale farmer from Malawi. He is married and has two children. Five years ago, Clemence began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal symptoms whose cause was unclear. He moved between hospitals without improvement. In 2021, it was discovered that his esophagus was obstructed, and he underwent treatment. Fortunately, his symptoms reduced and he experienced some relief. However, in 2025, he began experiencing severe gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, including heartburn, chest pain, and regurgitation, sometimes causing food to come up through his nose, especially when lying down. This created a constant fear of choking in his sleep. During one of his recent hospital visits, he underwent an endoscopy. Doctors have now diagnosed him with a hiatal hernia, and he was urgently referred to our medical partner PIH for support where surgery is recommended. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Clemence's surgery. On February 6th, he will undergo surgery at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. Clemence said, "Kindly help me to get better, I am afraid of eating in fear of choking that can cause death; food comes through my nose sometimes and I am very terrified now. I can no longer do anything to generate cash apart from spending."

Tafach is active and cheerful six-month-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives with his parents and his older brother. His mother works as a daily laborer, washing clothes and fetching water for neighbors, while his father farms on other people’s land. Despite their hard work, they often struggle to provide for their family, facing frequent food shortages and relying on the kindness of neighbors for support. Tafach's mother first noticed something was wrong when Tafach was only four days old. He began vomiting and was unable to pass stool, prompting his concerned parents to take him to a nearby hospital. Tafach was diagnosed with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. Tafach’s mother was devastated and broke down in tears, as the family had never encountered such a condition before. However, the doctor reassured them that Tafach’s condition could be corrected through a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction and promptly referred them to a larger public hospital. At the referral hospital, Tafach underwent a colostomy to help create a temporary route for his bowel movements, and the family was given a follow-up appointment. They returned home feeling hopeful yet anxious. A few days later, a neighbor informed them about our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Tafach’s parents reached out and took him to BKMCM for further evaluation. Tafach is now scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his condition on January 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Tafach's procedure and care. After his recovery, Tafach will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Tafach's mother expressed hope, saying, "I pray for my child's surgery to be safe and successful, envisioning him thriving like his older brother. I aspire for him to become a dedicated student and a remarkable individual."

Neema is 12 years old and a student from Tanzania. She is the second-born in a family of three children. Her parents farm rice to sustain the household. Neema is a bright student in Class 4. But this year, her teacher noticed she was crying constantly because walking was becoming increasingly painful. Her classmates also pointed out her unusual gait and sometimes made her feel different from them. Her feet bend inward significantly, making movement difficult and lowering her self-esteem. Neema has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Neema's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on December 5th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Neema's clubfoot repair. Neema dreams of having straight feet, walking without pain, and continuing her education like her friends. She is polite, well-mannered, and deeply appreciative of every effort made to help her. Neema says, "I want my friends to stop laughing and staring at my leg because it makes me uncomfortable."

Win is a 48-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife in a refugee Camp in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. They have lived in the refugee camp since 2011. Win is a homemaker, as he is unable to work due to a leg injury he sustained in 1997 when he was arrested by the Burmese Army and forced to be a porter and laborer for them. While cleaning outside the camp one day, he hit a mine, which injured his leg. Win's wife is a day laborer, but her work is inconsistent, as she only works when employers come to the camp and announce that they need help. Since 2019, Win has had a right inguinal hernia. Currently, he continues to experience pain in his lower abdomen. The pain is worse when he sits up, so he must stay in a supine position. Fortunately, on November 5th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Win's hernia repair surgery. Aside from the physical symptoms, Win says, “I feel useless. Even if I couldn’t work before I was admitted to the hospital, I could cook and clean and take care of the house. Now I can’t even do that.”