News and stories

Twins, Optometrists and football players: #VisionaryWomen breaking gender barriers

Twin sisters Chhaya and Chhavi are breaking gender barriers. They are #VisionaryWomen who are saving sight and paving paths for girls in India. How did they do it? In part, by playing football! This International Women’s Day, discover how Orbis supporters help elevate women and close the gender gap in blindness.

International Women's Day: Penn Staples helped Orbis take off

To mark International Women’s Day 2021 we’re celebrating some of the incredible women at the heart of the Orbis story - women whose leadership, passion and expertise has helped millions of people access quality eye care. This is Penn Staples – former Director of External Affairs in the 1980s.

International Women's Day: How Holly Peppe's leadership put Orbis on the map

To mark International Women’s Day 2021, we’re celebrating some of the incredible women in the Orbis family whose expertise and dedication is helping the next generation of women and girls reach their potential. This is Holly Peppe – former Director of External Affairs at Orbis – and the story of how her trailblazing work put Orbis on the map.

International Women's Day: Dr Trúc is leading the fight against blindness in Vietnam

To mark International Women’s Day 2021, we’re celebrating some of the incredible women in the Orbis family whose expertise and dedication is helping the next generation of women and girls reach their potential. This is Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Trúc – an ophthalmologist who is dedicated to tackling avoidable blindness in her home city of Hue, Vietnam.

2020: Orbis's Year in Review

2020 was not the year anyone expected – however our generous supporters, dedicated staff and incredible partners helped to make the most of an exceptionally difficult year. Take a look at our interactive Orbis Year in Review below and see how Orbis and our partners rose to the challenge of the pandemic.

Treating Kubri for trachoma during the pandemic

Kubri lives in a village in Gurage Zone. She and her husband travelled for one hour using a bajaj, a three wheeled vehicle to get to the health center where we meet them. Kubri has six children - two sons and four daughters. Kubri sells “Enset”, a local tree which is a staple food throughout SNNPR, which grows in her backyard.

Saving sight in Ethiopia: Belay's story

Belay suffered excruciating pain in her right eye. As time passed, the pain grew and her vision worsened. In December 2020 Belay had an eye evaluation at an Orbis-supported health centre which led to sight-saving surgery, just in time. See how the kindness of supporters like you changed her life forever.

SIGHTLINES EPISODE 9: THE ORBIS FAMILY