Jovitah is a 24-year-old small-scale farmer from Uganda. When she was three years old, Jovitah and her sister lost their father, leaving them under the care of their mother. Their mother worked tirelessly to ensure they grew up cared for, but sadly, she also passed away in 2008. Jovitah and her sister then went to live with their grandmother. Though Jovitah's grandmother raised them as best as she could, she was unable to support them to reach their desired level of education due to financial constraints. After leaving school, Jovitah got married at the age of 17. Presently, she and her husband engage in farming, mainly growing beans, maize, and potatoes for home consumption, and selling the surplus to generate some income for the family. The couple have one child enrolled in Primary 1. Jovitah got pregnant a second time, but unfortunately she and her husband lost their baby a few days after the birth. Jovitah is currently expecting her third child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Jovitah undergo a C-Section on February 5th. This procedure will cost $252, and Jovitah needs your support. Jovitah says, “With your support, I look forward to a successful delivery with results of a healthy baby, hoping to continue with farming to sustain my family after a full recovery.”

Angel is a six-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her parents in a large family of seven children. Her father, a traditional man, works as a livestock keeper, which is the family’s main source of income. Despite the responsibilities of caring for many children, Angel’s parents remain deeply committed to her well-being. Angel was diagnosed with a windswept deformity. The deformity has affected both her legs, with her right leg bowed outward and her left leg bowed inward. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, Angel has difficulty walking, which may cause long-term joint damage. The condition makes Angel's movement difficult and limits her ability to play freely with other children her age or even attend school. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Angel. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 13th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Angel's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Angel's father says, "We want Angel to walk to school on her own and have the same future as other children."

Heng is a 74-year-old woman from Kandal province, Cambodia. She previously worked as a grocery seller at a small booth and is now retired. She is divorced and has four daughters, one son, and ten grandchildren. Heng lives with her youngest daughter, who works in a restaurant. Her favorite hobbies are listening to the monks' sermons on her small radio. About two years ago, Heng developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her vision to become severely blurry. Three months later, she became functionally blind, making it difficult for her to recognize people and move around independently. 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 clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Heng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On February 10th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Her family can contribute $25, but needs help raising $238 more to fund her procedure and care. Heng said, "I hope that after surgery, my vision will improve so I can move around more easily, recognize people clearly, and participate in social and family gatherings."