13-year-old Tracy's dream is to be an accountant. Her learning, however, has been marked by challenges beyond her control. She was born with hearing impairment and lived the initial years of her life unable to make out sounds. When she turned five, her mother got concerned and took her to the hospital for medical attention. The medical team recommended fitting of hearing aids, but unfortunately, Tracy's mother, who raises her on her own and earns a modest income working in a salon, could not afford the cost of the hearing aids. She turned to family, friends and well-wishers who helped raise enough funds, and at six years old, Tracy had hearing aids fitted. The treatment marked a turning point in her life. Tracy was able to return to school and, although she had fallen behind her peers, she began making remarkable progress. For the first time, Tracy could hear her mother calling her and respond appropriately. She could also hear her teachers instead of relying solely on lip-reading to follow lessons. More importantly, she gained the ability to interact, communicate and build friendships with other children, giving her a renewed sense of belonging and confidence. Over the years, doctors observed encouraging progress in her development and communication. In January this year, however, Tracy began experiencing complications with her hearing aids. They gradually stopped functioning properly and sometimes produced excessive noise, making it difficult for her to hear and communicate. This setback significantly affected her education, making her miss school and once again experience the isolation she had overcome. Earlier this month, her mother brought her back to AIC Kijabe Hospital for further assessment. Following an examination, the doctors established that her hearing aids had failed and that she urgently required a new pair. Unfortunately, her mother remains unable to meet the cost due to her limited financial resources. Presently, Tracy is struggling to keep up with her peers academically and socially. The loss of her hearing aids has once again placed barriers between her and the world she had begun to experience so fully. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Tracy receive treatment. On October 30th, Tracy is scheduled to have new hearing aids fitted, so she could regain her ability to hear, learn, communicate and interact confidently with those around her. Now, Tracy's family needs help to fund this $1,171 procedure. Tracy says: "Since my hearing aids stopped working, I have been unable to attend school, which has made me fall behind my peers."

Seanglong is a 19-year-old young man from Cambodia. He lives alone in Phnom Penh, where he works as a mechanic. His family lives in Kampong Cham Province. He is the second of four siblings. His older brother is a third-year university student, while his two younger siblings are still in high school. His parents are rice farmers and continue to support the family from their hometown. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and playing games. On May 6, 2026, Seanglong sustained an injury to his right lower leg after accidentally falling onto broken glass while working in a garage. The wound later became infected and required further medical care. After the injury, he initially received treatment at a hospital near his home, where the wound was cleaned and sutured, and he was then sent home. The following day, he sought further treatment from a nearby doctor and received home care for three days. However, the wound progressively worsened, becoming necrotic and developing discharge. He now experiences pain, infection, and necrosis, making it difficult for him to move and continue his work as a mechanic. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Seanglong receive treatment. On May 11th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to help remove pressure and infected tissue, control the infection, and support proper healing of the right leg. Now, Seanglong needs help to fund this $417 procedure. Seanglong said, “After the surgery, I hope that my leg will heal completely so I can return to my job as a mechanic and continue helping my family.”

Chimean is a 21-year-old chef from Cambodia. She lives with her parents and three younger siblings. Her father sells sugarcane, and her mother works as a cook in a family's home. She is the eldest of four children. During her free time, she enjoys listening to music and watching movies. In June 2026, Chimean accidentally injured the left side of her wrist with a knife while working. The injury damaged her ulnar nerve, causing weakness and numbness in her left hand and difficulty moving her wrist and fingers. This makes it difficult for her to use her hand for cooking and other daily activities. She needs to undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure to help regain strength and mobility. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Chimean receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo the tendon and nerve repair procedure on October 29th. She can contribute $75, but needs help raising $626 more to fund her procedure and care. Chimean said, “I hope my hand will get stronger after surgery so I can move my fingers better, prepare food more easily, and return to work as a chef.”