Sovannary is a 7-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in a small community in Kandal province with her parents and two siblings. She is the middle child in the family. Her older sister is studying in Grade 7, and her younger brother is 4 years old. Her father works as a truck driver, often spending long hours away from home to earn income for the family, while her mother stays at home to care for the children and manage household chores. Sovannary is currently studying in Grade 2, enjoys learning mathematics, and dreams of becoming a police officer when she grows up. In her free time, she enjoys playing with toys with her brother. Her favorite foods are Tom Yum soup and grilled pork. For the past two years, Sovannary has been experiencing a sore throat, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and loud snoring at night. These symptoms make it hard for her to eat comfortably and sleep peacefully. Because she does not rest well at night, she often feels tired during the day and has difficulty concentrating at school. Sovannary was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Sovannary, which is scheduled to take place on March 2nd. Surgeons will remove her tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Sovannary of her symptoms and helping her live much more comfortably. Her mother said, “When I hear her struggling to breathe and snoring loudly at night, I cannot sleep because I worry about her. I truly hope this treatment will help her breathe easily, sleep well, and live happily like other children her age.”

Werknesh is 60 years old and a mother of ten from Ethiopia. She has spent her life working on her farm to support her family. She has long been active and independent, managing daily responsibilities for her household and land. About seven years ago, Werknesh developed a cataract in her right eye, resulting in progressively cloudy and reduced vision. The condition has made it increasingly difficult for her to farm, carry out household tasks, and maintain her independence. Werknesh is raising $150 to fund cataract surgery with the support of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. On April 4th, surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens, and after recovery, she is expected to regain clear vision. Werknesh said, "I hope to restore my ability to work safely on my farm, tend to my household, and move about independently once again."

Emmanuel is a 15-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is one of six children and has never attended school due to longstanding financial challenges following the loss of his father at a young age. Emmanuel’s mother is a livestock keeper who relies on selling animals to support the family. Emmanuel began experiencing bowing of both legs about four years ago, and has been diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus. 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. Over time, the condition has worsened, causing him pain while walking and limiting his ability to graze livestock with other children in his community, which is an important daily responsibility for his family. His reduced mobility has affected both his independence and his contribution to household activities. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Emmanuel. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 3rd at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Emmanuel's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Emmanuel says, "I want to help my brothers at home, but my legs make it hard to help with any chores."