Yeniya is a seven-year-old active and sociable boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys riding his bicycle and playing football with his friends. He has a keen interest in environmental science and loves spending time with his younger sister. Yeniya lives with his parents and his two sisters in a small one-room iron-sheet house. Their family home was destroyed two years ago during the construction of a new government structure, leaving them in a difficult living situation. Yeniya's mother is a dedicated homemaker, while his father works as a daily laborer. Together, they strive to meet their children’s needs. Yeniya's parents were unaware of his condition until last year, when Yeniya began experiencing pain in the scrotal area. His mother took him to a health center, where he was diagnosed with an undescended testis and advised that he would need surgical intervention. The doctor also expressed concern that the condition had not been addressed earlier and referred them to a specialized hospital. Overwhelmed with emotion, Yeniya's mother relayed the diagnosis to his father, and they took him to the referred hospital. Yeniya was placed on the surgical wait list. As months went by, his father frequently inquired about the status of the case, worried that the condition might get worse due to treatment delay. One day, eight months later, they received a call from the referral hospital informing them that Yeniya had been further referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Yeniya has been diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Yeniya has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Yeniya will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 24th. AMH is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Yeniya's father said, "We are grateful for the opportunity for our son's treatment, and hope that the surgery will go well, and he will recover."

Joyce is a 14-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her parents and four siblings in a pastoralist Maasai community. She is currently in Standard Six at a local primary school and is known by her teachers as a determined and respectful student. Joyce has been living with a severe extensor tendon contracture and burn scar contracture affecting her right hand and wrist. Over the years, the condition has gradually limited her ability to open her hand, extend her wrist, and use her fingers effectively. Despite these challenges, Joyce remains committed to being productive. She has adapted by using her left hand for writing and most school activities, which has slowed her work and made classroom tasks more difficult. At home, she participates in household chores, but tasks that require gripping, lifting, or two-handed coordination are hard for her. Simple activities like carrying water, washing clothes, or holding tools can be painful and frustrating. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Joyce receive treatment. On February 18th, surgeons will perform contracture release surgery and a skin graft to significantly improve her ability to write, care for herself, and participate fully in school and home life. Now, she needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Joyce says, “I try to do everything with my left hand, but it is slow and difficult. I would desire my right hand to work so I can write and do my schoolwork without struggle.”

Rithy is a 73-year-old married man and a farmer from Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia. He grows potatoes and mangoes for a living. He has one son, three daughters, and two grandchildren. Rithy lives with his wife, who is also a farmer growing potatoes and mangoes, and his daughter, who works as a farmer as well. His favorite hobby is visiting the pagoda. About four years ago, Rithy developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him 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, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so he is not able to go places on his own. When Rithy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On June 2nd, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. He can contribute $50, but needs help raising $213 more to fund his procedure and care. Rithy said, "I hope that after cataract surgery, my eyesight will improve so that I can move around more easily, return to farming, and continue growing mangoes and potatoes successfully."