It’s hard to believe that 2018 has come and gone, isn’t it? Time flies.

Last year people like you helped us reach thousands of people in need of eye care. Thank you for your support! So many people, like Elagonda from India, were helped through your generosity.

Here’s a letter Elagonda wanted us to share with you:

“My name is Elagonda. I’m 65 years old and live in India.

 I’m not a wealthy person, and although I have two daughters who could help support me, they’re both married and have their own lives to attend to. What my family did have in savings was used to arrange their marriages into good families.

 So I live alone… I lost my husband a few years ago, and I get by on a small pension from the government. When I can, I do some farming work to make a little more money. I depend on my eyes to earn my living, and I only realized to what extent when I started to lose my vision.

 One day, my world was so dark that I couldn’t keep working. I had no other income, and I could barely survive on my pension.

 Unexpectedly, one day a community health worker trained by Operation Eyesight was at my door. She screened my eyes and told me I had cataracts.

 I was poor though. How could I afford the surgeries for my eyes? But the health worker told me that my treatment would be free of charge, thanks to Operation Eyesight’s kind-hearted donors.

 After my surgery, I can see again! I can work and spend time with my friends and neighbours. I have hope again.

 I sincerely thank the people who give their money to help people like me, even though they don’t know me. My sight has been restored – and with it, my happiness!”

 This year, we hope you’ll help us reach more people like Elagonda with the gift of sight.

Here’s to everything we’ll do together in 2019!

Cheers to a new year!

The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

We would need to write an entire book to talk about every person you helped last year, and who knows? Maybe that will happen one day, but for now, I would like to share with you some of the highlights of 2017.

One of our favourite stories is Simon’s. A little boy who refused to give up despite losing his sight. Thanks to support from people like you, his life changed!

Then there’s Shabnam, a community health worker so devoted to her community that she will stop at nothing to help the ones who need it most.

And who could forget the smiling granny? Namey’s smile was brought back, thanks to kind-hearted supporters like you!

Usha diligently looked after her family by taking care of all the household chores, including cooking. But a day came when Usha couldn’t distinguish sugar from salt in her kitchen, and she feared what that would mean for her family. Luckily, Usha’s vision was saved!

Just look at that bright smile! Laxmi could barely contain herself when she opened her eyes after her cataract surgery!

And let’s not forget Ruth; this young girl’s future was starting to look dim as she fell four years behind in her studies, unable to see anything in class. But thanks to people like you, Ruth’s future has been brought into focus!

We have so many more stories to share with you! And we’re excited to see what happens in 2018. If you have a story you’d like to share, please do! You can email us at info@operationeyesightindia.org.

Thank you again for your incredible support in 2017. For All The World To See!

The post Happy new year! Throwback to 2017. appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

On behalf of all of us at Operation Eyesight, our best wishes for a happy and healthy 2017! I don’t know about you, but as the new year rolls in, I find myself reflecting on all of the wonderful things that happened in the last 12 months. It was a busy and exciting year for Operation Eyesight, and as I reminisce about our sight-saving projects in India and Africa, I’d like to share some of my favorite stories of 2016 with you. Enjoy!

Our team has many more heartwarming stories and photos to share with you in the coming year, so please check back every Tuesday. And if you have a story you’d like to share, please do! You can email us at info@operationeyesightindia.org. Thank you again your support in 2016!

The post Happy New Year, everyone! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

“Our donors are incredible!” I cannot count how many times a member of our staff uttered those words this past year. Day after day, we are blown away by the generosity and commitment of our donors. Whether you’re a first-time donor, a monthly donor or a longtime friend of Operation Eyesight, we want you to know just how much we treasure your support.

Thank you for a wonderful 2014, and best wishes for a happy new year!

The post Happy New Year from Operation Eyesight! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.