In Wajir, Kenya, years of drought forced Bishara, a Somali mother, to move from place to place with her family in search of survival. Through every hardship, she remained the pillar of her household—a resilient mother of five, with her youngest just four years old. As the sole provider, she carried the family’s burden alone, caring for her children.
For years, she worked tirelessly, running a small local catering and tea business. Her hands provided meals for others so she could support her children’s education. Life was not easy, but it was stable, until everything changed.
Four years ago, constant exposure to heavy cooking smoke slowly stole her sight. What began as irritation became darkness. Eventually, she developed cataracts and lost vision in both eyes.
With blindness came devastating loss. She was forced to close her business, her children left school because she could no longer afford fees, and even the simplest daily tasks became overwhelming. She recalls the fear and helplessness she felt, unable to walk safely, bathe independently, or even find her way to the bathroom without assistance.
“I felt like my life had ended,” she shared.
But hope arrived in 2024, when she visited a local hospital and learned she was eligible for free cataract surgery through Baitulmaal. That same year, she received surgery in one eye. In 2025, she received the second procedure.
The moment her vision returned was life-changing.
One of the first things she saw clearly was her youngest daughter, the baby she had last seen when she was only two months old. Now, years later, the child stood before her, grown and unrecognizable.
“I could not believe how much she had changed,” she said tearfully. “I was so happy to finally see her face again."
Today, she can walk independently again. She can care for herself. And most importantly, she carries renewed hope that she can rebuild her small business and support her children once more.
Her sight was restored, but more than that, her dignity, independence, and future were restored too.
“I was in a very dark place, but I feel alive and beautiful again.”
Thanks to donors like you, we are restoring vision across Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, performing over 2,000 life-changing cataract surgeries since 2023. Cataracts remain the leading cause of preventable blindness in Africa, but together, we can bring hope and independence to thousands more.
Give the gift of sight today