Samwel is a 15-year-old student. He is the second-to-last child in a family of seven children. He resides in the Mpanda region and had to discontinue his education during his primary school years due to the remote location of his school, which made it impossible for him to travel long distances because of his birth condition. His parents, who are farmers, work daily to provide food for the family and generate additional income by selling their surplus harvest. To supplement the family’s income, his mother also engages in a side business of selling charcoal. Despite his parents’ efforts to seek treatment for his condition, limited financial resources prevented them from affording treatment at hospitals capable of providing the specialised care he needed. Consequently, Samwel had to adapt to his situation. He assists his family with farm work, although he tends to tire quickly. Remarkably, he has even discovered a way to derive enjoyment from playing football and other sports with his friends. In July 2022, our medical partner's care centre had the opportunity to meet Samwel and his parents during one of the outreach visits. They were deeply moved by how he had found ways to enjoy his life despite living with a condition that could have limited him in numerous ways. Samwel has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Samwel's family now traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 15. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Samwel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk comfortably and play sports even better. Samwel says, “I feel like this is a blessing. I once thought I was meant to live with this condition for life. I hope this treatment will enable me to work harder and enjoy sports better.”

Benson is a 68-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda. He is a father to two children, sadly mentioning that three others have passed away. Benson worked in construction, but due to his age, he transitioned to farming. His wife contributes to farming as well. Recently Benson has experienced some health difficulties, and he said that his daughter's support has been crucial for him and his wife. For the past nine months, Benson has experienced swelling around his shoulder blade. The swelling also causes discomfort, numbness, and pins-and-needles sensations. He struggles to turn his head and experiences sleepless nights due to the pain and consistent headaches. After undergoing an examination, doctors discovered a mass in Benson's shoulder that is causing his symptoms. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. Benson traveled to AMH's care center and will undergo surgery to remove a mass in his shoulder on July 11th. Now, Benson needs help to raise $137 to fund this procedure. Benson says, “I hope to be relieved from all the pain I’ve had once I am operated on.”

Ancheline is a 20-year-old single mother from Kenya. She has two children, aged six and two years old. To support her family, she works as a casual laborer washing clothes for individuals and families. She lives in a one-room home with her two children. Two months ago, Ancheline began to experience troubling symptoms, including swelling in her throat, which has caused difficulty swallowing. Her friends helped her raise funds so that she could travel to the hospital outside of her village. Eventually, after a number of tests, she was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Unfortunately, she does not have medical coverage and is unable to afford the procedure on her own. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Ancheline receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on April 20th at AMH's care center. During the procedure, surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. AMH is requesting $949 to help fund the procedure. Ancheline says, “My neck is swelling and it is very uncomfortable. I have been at home hoping it will reduce but it keeps increasing. I hope to get treatment and reduce the swelling.”