Maybe some of you reading this are fathers yourselves, and if so, you might find yourself relating to Wali, a father from India with a young son whose dreams for his future and his career are larger than life.

Today, Wali is a happy father and husband who supports his family with his tailoring work. And that’s thanks to the generosity of people like you!

Not so long ago, Wali was blinded by cataracts in both his eyes, but your support made it possible for him to journey out of darkness.

Wali wanted nothing more than to give his son a good life, to help him make his dreams a reality.

The early morning routine before school was Wali’s favourite – Helping his son get ready and then taking him to class was his favourite way to start the day.

When Wali’s vision faded, so did his morning routine with his son.

“I was extremely fearful. I thought I would be confined to the four walls of my house and my dear wife would have to take on financial responsibility four our family.”

As a tailor, Wali’s eyes were vital to his work and his family’s livelihood.

But thanks to the support of people like you, Wali was reached by a community health worker trained by Operation Eyesight. She screened him and referred him to our partner, the Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital where he was diagnosed.

Although Wali was nervous about surgery, once he received treatment, he got his life back. Now he takes his son to school, and he’s back to supporting his family with his tailoring!

That’s a pretty special Father’s Day gift, don’t you think? Wali got his sight back, and now he can support his son financially so one day he can go to school and make his dreams come true.

It may be belated, but it’s not too late to show Dad you care. Why not send him a personalized eCard and bring him a bit of joy today while giving the Gift of Sight at the same time?

The post Happy Father’s Day! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

This Sunday, many people around the world will celebrate Father’s Day. It’s an opportunity to honour dads, grandfathers and father figures for their love and support – and this week, two teenagers from Akbarpur, India, would like to say “thank you” to their fathers.

Gunjan used to struggle with poor vision due to cataract in both her eyes. Her vision deteriorated to the point where she was legally blind and no longer able to study. She had no choice but to drop out of college.

Fortunately, Gunjan was able to get the help she needed, thanks to her father, Manoj. One day, a group of Operation Eyesight-trained community eye health workers discovered Gunjan and identified her eye condition. After health education sessions and discussions with the eye health workers, Manoj agreed to send Gunjan to a partner hospital for cataract surgery.

After having one eye operated on, Gunjan is back at college continuing her studies. She will have her other eye operated on soon. “My father has given me a new life and a future,” she says.

Priya Devi was also a hard-working student until a cataract developed in her left eye and impaired her vision. Saddened by her poor eyesight, she soon lost interest in her studies. Her father, Narendra Singh, was worried about her, but he did not understand the reason for her sadness and poor performance in school.

Thankfully, a group of community eye health workers educated Priya Devi and her family about cataract and its treatment. Once he understood what his daughter was going through, Narendra Singh agreed to let her undergo cataract surgery at Operation Eyesight’s partner Dr. JL Rohatgi Memorial Eye Hospital.

With her vision restored, Priya Devis has regained her confidence and is performing well in school. Her parents say she makes them very happy and proud.

Because of the kindness shown by their fathers and by Operation Eyesight’s generous donors, Gunjan and Priya Devi have promising futures ahead of them. Thank you for supporting us so we can help parents ensure their children get the eye care they need!

This Father’s Day, you too can say “thank you” to the dad in your life. Consider giving a gift in his honour. See the Gift Guide and eCard sections of our website. Thank you for your support! And we hope all the dads out there have a wonderful day!

The post Saying “thank you” to Dad appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Art Jenkyns used to say, “You can’t change the world, but you can change some people’s world.” As founder of Operation Eyesight, he did just that. And as a dedicated husband and father, he also made the world a better place for his family.

Art and his beloved wife, Una, had five children: Tom, Linda, Arleigh, Bill and Jim. “We kids were all really close, and we were all close to both Mom and Dad,” recalls their daughter, Linda.

Despite his busy schedule, Linda says her father was able to achieve a good balance between his work, family and faith. Sunday was designated as family day. They would play games in the backyard and simply enjoy spending time together.

The Jenkyns also planned a few weeks of family holidays each summer. “Mom and Dad loved to camp. They had a 9×9 tent with five kids and a dog, and we never stayed anywhere for more than one night.”

After summers of setting up and breaking camp, the Jenkyns found their new home-away-from home: a family cottage in central Alberta. Linda has many fond memories of their time out at the lake. “Dad loved the water,” she explains. “And he just loved to go out there and spend time with us.”

Art would often keep busy with chores, such as raking up weeds in the water or staining the deck, but he was happy to be around his family. He knew how to have fun, too; he’d play cards or games with the kids. Linda and her siblings still go out to the cottage, reminiscing about their father’s joy at being out there with them.

Art was also a romantic. He adored Una, to whom he was married for 62 years. “I remember the first trip my Dad made to India in 1968. My parents had never been separated before. Dad was away for a month and he wrote Mom a letter every day.”

Linda remembers going to pick her Dad up from the airport and watching him bolt through the door to see them. “The expression ‘joined at the hip’ was so true of my parents. Mom was his strength and his support, and he gave her credit.”

Art was quick to give everyone else credit, putting the needs of others before his own. “He was a man of deep faith who felt he was called to lead others,” explains Linda.

“He was encouraging and optimistic. He instilled in us the importance of giving back to the community and making the world a better place for those less fortunate.”

The Jenkyns family – which now spans four generations, with 11 granchildren, five great-grandchildren and twins on the way this fall! – will always remember Art as a loving and compassionate husband, father and grandfather.

“We miss him dearly,” says Linda. “He was one-of-a-kind. He always said he’d like to leave the world a better place, and he certainly did that.”

We would like to thank Linda for sharing her precious memories with us. We enjoy hearing such heartwarming stories about the man who founded our work. He truly was remarkable, and so is his legacy!

You, too, can help make the world a better place. This Father’s Day, please consider giving a gift in honour of the dad in your life and, by doing so, help parents in India and Africa. See our Gift Guide.

The post Remembering a loving husband and father appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

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With Father’s Day only two days away, we take this opportunity to showcase some of the dads and grandfathers we have encountered through our work both in India and Africa. Click on the images to see bigger versions. It’s not too late to send an eCard to your father, grandpa, or spouse. Celebrate him with an eCard and a meaningful gift that honours him and helps fathers and families in Africa and India.

The post A Dad is… appeared first on Operation Eyesight.