Allen is a small-scale farmer from Uganda. She completed primary school but was not able to continue because her parents were unable to support her education. She is separated from her husband and raising two children. Her firstborn is 14 years old and no longer in school, and her secondborn is 13 years old and is in primary school. She lives with her parents in a three-room mud house. Ten years ago, Allen began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small painless swelling on her neck which was rapidly increasing in size. She resorted to using herbs, but they did not help her at all. Currently, the mass has enlarged excessively and has caused difficulty in swallowing. She also experiences mild airway obstruction and on-and-off episodes of severe headaches. She was diagnosed with a goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Allen receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo thyroid surgery on February 3rd at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $333, and she and her family need help raising money. Allen says, ‘‘I pray to have a successful surgery. I hope to continue with farming after complete recovery to be able to support our family. May God bless you.’’

Rehema is a 33-year-old farmer and mother from Uganda. She has two sons and a daughter. She comes from a family of six siblings. Two of her siblings and her father have passed away. Rehema practices small-scale farming with her husband, and in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Rehema carried six previous pregnancies. One of her children died after birth due to birth asphyxia, and she also experienced two miscarriages. Rehema is expecting a new baby. Due to medical concerns, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a Caesarean section to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Rehema undergo a C-Section on February 13th. This procedure will cost $234, and Rehema is requesting support. Rehema said, ‘I hope to get back to my fields after delivery.”

Yany is an 18-year-old student--her parents are both rice farmers in Sihanouk province, where they live with her four other siblings. She shares her home with her three brothers and one sister who also attend school and support the family rice crops. As the oldest daughter, she helps her mother keep the house clean and cook for the family when she is not in school. In August 2020, Yany was involved in a motorbike accident that resulted in a fractured right femur. Her parents took her to a local hospital, where she underwent a procedure to implant hardware to facilitate the healing process. Her bone has healed well and she now needs the hardware removed. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 2nd, Yany will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will cost $304. This will allow her to continue to strengthen her leg and focus on her studies. Yany said: "I hope after surgery, my leg will heal well, and I will have no pain any more."