Hla is a 68-year-old from Burma. She lives in a refugee camp in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. In June 2026, she moved from her home in Burma to live with her daughter's family in Thailand due to ongoing conflict in Burma. She travelled with her five-year-old granddaughter, the daughter of her son, whose mother has passed away and whose father lost contact with the family. Hla and her daughter are homemakers, while her son-in-law works as an agricultural day labourer. Hla’s right eye is severely blurred, limiting her vision to within one meter. A few days ago, her left eye also became slightly blurry, though it remains much better than her right. She feels unsteady and off-balance when walking. She was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Hla. As her right eye is more severe, she will undergo surgery for her right eye first. On August 14, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Hla's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Hla shared, “I try my best to stay positive. I am a happy person, despite my eye problem. I am happy that I get to meet BCMF, who are willing to help me.”

Abdeta is a farmer from Ethiopia. He is an 80-year-old father of five sons and two daughters and has farmed with just one eye for most of his life after losing his right eye as a child. For decades, he managed remarkably well on his own. Despite losing his right eye in a sudden accident, he never let anything stop him from working day and night to provide for his wife and kids. Now, a growing cataract in his left eye—his only working eye—is rapidly taking away his remaining sight. Without a clear vision, he can no longer farm or care for himself, making urgent medical treatment essential for him to get his life back. Losing the vision in his only good eye has completely changed his life, taking away his physical independence and daily peace of mind. Everyday activities that used to keep him self-reliant—like farming, walking safely around his home, and taking care of himself—are now dangerous or impossible. Fortunately, on August 1st, Abdeta is scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with the help of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to raise $150 to fund this procedure. Abdeta is confident that after his surgery, he will return to work fully focused, ready to give it his total attention, and pick up right where he left off. He shared, "My goal is to stop relying on others for help, feel safe walking without fear of falling, and get my life and self-reliance back."

Phan, who is 76 years old, is a retired rice farmer from Prey Veng province, Cambodia. He is married and has one son, three daughters, and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife, who is also a retired rice farmer. About three years ago, Phan developed a cataract in his left eye, which causes him to experience itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly and is reluctant to go out on his own. When Phan learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On July 14th, doctors at our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery on Phan, during which an intraocular lens will be implanted in his left eye. After he has recovered, Phan will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs your help to fund this $263 procedure. Phan said: "I hope after surgery my eye can see better, so that I can easily recognize my relatives, and go places without having to worry about my eye anymore."