For Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of reflection, a time to give and to help. Whilst the sights of Ramadan are well known to most Muslims, such as the crescent moon sighting that begins the month, or seeing the faces of loved ones at Iftar, there are millions of people whose avoidable vision loss will impact their observation.
Can you imagine being in the dark when a 20 minute surgery could restore your sight? Or enduring the pain of swollen, teary eyes for weeks when one dose of antibiotics could cure you?
Your donation this Ramadan can change that. You can help a child see clearly for the first time, help families gain an education, let a parent work and provide, and help families to escape poverty.
Sight isn’t just a sense: sight helps us learn, play and explore. But around the world, 1.1 billion people have vision loss, and 90% could be treated or prevented. Yet many families cannot access the eye care they need because it is too expensive or too far away. Having to choose between feeding your children and paying for an eye operation is a choice that no parent should have to make.
Donate today and help families see a brighter future.
Orbis seeks to end avoidable blindness. We work in some of the poorest and most underserved communities. We provide eye tests, glasses, and life-changing surgeries. We train local doctors and nurses to be able to care for their communities. We strengthen hospitals and clinics to make sure help lasts for lifetimes.
Morium is seven. Arafat is five. Brother and sister, they live with their parents and younger sister in a small village deep inside the Rohingya refugee camp, in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Their home has no electricity, so when the sun sets, they are left in darkness for the evening. Even the simplest tasks are difficult, as the nearest shop is two kilometres away, forcing their parents to walk long distances to collect basic supplies. Life has become even harder with the sudden arrival of many more Rohingya refugees, which has put extra pressure on an already vulnerable community.
From an early age, Morium and Arafat struggled to see. Their parents noticed white patches in their eyes. Fazlul and their mother Taslima wanted to help, but they had no money. Fazlul, is a day labourer who often doesn’t earn enough to buy food to feed his family.
As their vision worsened, Morium and Arafat became dependent on others for almost everything.
Fazlul did not give up on trying to find help for his children. He first went to a hospital run by an international Non-Governmental Organisation, but the travel costs were too high for Fazlul. Next, he went to another hospital. They said surgery could help, but the cost was far beyond what he could afford. He felt hopeless and worried about his children’s future.
He wanted to believe his village elders when they said their eyesight might improve naturally.
One day, a co-worker told Fazlul about an Orbis‑supported vision centre in the refugee camp. He brought his children to the clinic, where local doctors developed a treatment plan for them.
Morium and Arafat were diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. The doctors explained that surgery would improve their vision and prevent any further complications. Thanks to support like yours the surgery was free.
“It was the first time I felt peace”, Fazlul explained about visiting the vision centre.
In February 2025, both children had surgery and their sight has begun to improve.
Morium and Arafat are not alone. Families everywhere are waiting for your help. This Ramadan, your donation can restore sight, you can let a child go back to school, you can let a parent work and provide.
Your generosity can bring light where there is darkness, it can change lives and give hope.
Fazlul didn’t ask for much. He only wanted his children to see. Can you imagine the joy of watching your child open their eyes and seeing everything clearly for the first time? This Ramadan, you can make that happen. Give the gift of sight. Give hope. Give light.
