This Christmas, we’re asking for your support to help children like Sozema and Yegat see a brighter future.
Sozema, four, and her little sister Yegat, just fifteen months old, live in Ethiopia. Their father, Birhanu, knows how trachoma, a painful eye disease, can impact every aspect of a family’s daily life.
“Living in a close-knit community makes it impossible to protect my own children,” he explains. “Everyone is connected. Children play together, share the same spaces, and share the risk of infection.”
Birhanu first noticed something was wrong seven months ago. The girls were constantly crying, rubbing their eyes, and had stopped playing with their siblings and friends. At first, he tried traditional remedies, hoping for relief, but nothing worked.
“At home, the burden weighed heavily on my wife. My wife walks an hour each way to fetch water, prepares meals, and cares for our livestock. With the girls’ health worsening, her daily responsibilities became even harder to manage,” he recalls.
With the support of Orbis-trained health workers, Sozema and Yegat began proper treatment.
“Now, I carefully follow the health worker’s advice and apply the ointment as instructed. I’m beginning to see real improvement in their eyes,” Birhanu shared.
For the first time, the family dares to dream of a future free from pain. “With this support, I believe our children have a real chance to overcome it,” he said.
Birhanu’s wish is simple yet powerful:
“I hope their eyesight improves completely, so they can see the world clearly and experience life to the fullest. As they grow older, I want them to have every opportunity to receive a good education, enjoy a comfortable life, and find true happiness in whatever they do. My greatest wish is for their future to be bright, healthy, and filled with joy.”
This Christmas, your support can help children like Sozema and Yegat receive the treatment they need to protect their sight. Every gift, every donation, helps bring hope, health, and a brighter future to children affected by trachoma.
Help us ensure no child has to live in fear of losing their sight. Together, we can turn Birhanu’s Christmas wish into reality.
