Amina is a 11-year-old girl from Musoma region in Tanzania, the seventh child in a family of ten siblings. Her parents are small-scale farmers who rely solely on their harvest for sustenance and income generation. They often struggle to meet their needs, and climate change has resulted in poor harvests over the past year. About a year ago, Amina developed a swelling on her chin. Initially, it was considered insignificant as it did not bother her, but over time, the swelling grew larger and began to cause her significant discomfort when she was eating. This prompted concerns from her parents, who initially sought advice from a nearby pharmacy. However, the cream provided proved ineffective. Consequently, the family took her to a nearby hospital, where she was diagnosed with a mass requiring surgical removal. Due to financial constraints, her parents could not afford Amina's treatment so they went back home. Sometime later, the outreach team of our medical partner's care center visited their village, and the family was directed to Kafika House for further review and treatment. The team also assisted the family with transportation costs as they could not afford it. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Amina receive treatment. On April 2nd, surgeons will remove the mass and ease Amina's symptoms. Now, Amina's family needs help to fund this $724 procedure. Amina's mother says: “Please help with my daughter’s treatment. I hope she recovers from this condition so that it won’t be a problem as she grows older.”

Sovan is a 73-year-old widow. She has two sons, four daughters, and 13 grandchildren. She lives in Phnom Penh province with her oldest daughter and her family. When she was younger, she wove and sold Khmer-designed cloth, but now she has retired and spends her days inside, helping with cooking or visiting her local pagoda to pray. A year ago, Sovan developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her tearing, blurry vision, and difficulty recognizing the faces of her family. She is most afraid that she will fall when crossing the dirt road near the house or taking the steps up to the pagoda. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Sovan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. On March 12th, doctors will perform small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Sovan shared, "I hope after surgery I can see and go outside to join ceremonies at the pagoda, do housework, and take care of myself."

Negaso is a young boy from Ethiopia. He is the third child of his parents. He loves playing football with his friends and wants to attend school. He loves the spinach his mother makes. When he was only one day old, he underwent a emergency colostomy in Butajira Hospital as he was born with a birth condition that leads to intestinal blockage. His mother has a small vegetable business on the streets. At the same time, his father is a daily laborer, and their income is minimal. Negaso wants to go to school and cries when he sees other students go to school by school bus in the morning. His family can't send him to school since he has a colostomy, and they haven't been able to get him the necessary follow-up treatment for his condition. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Negaso is now scheduled to undergo surgery to heal his condition on January 4th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, requests $1,500 to cover Negaso's procedure and care. After his recovery, Negaso will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing severe health complications in the future. His mother said, "I worry that kids would touch his colostomy while I keep him on the street market with me."