Egypt

Meet Auhora

Auhora Gendy lives in rural village several hours outside of Cairo, Egypt. The community of 30,000 is faced with poverty, with the average daily income coming out to $1.80. That's a less than $2 to feed, clothe and shelter your family. Health care is limited and hard to afford. And eye care? It’s unheard of.

It is estimated that 90 percent of people who are blind live in developing countries. More than half of these cases are caused by cataracts and other preventable, treatable eye diseases. Blindness has a profound socioeconomic impact in society. Not only is the blind person unable to work, but at least one other family member often has to drop out of school or skip work to care for them.

Like many adults worldwide, Auhora slowly developed cataracts as she aged. With no preventative care or treatment, she eventually went blind.

Last year, Auhora experienced what some might call a "miracle." She got her sight back.

It is your gifts to ELCA World Hunger that made this possible. Since July 2007, a mobile eye clinic has provided free eye exams, eyeglasses and simple surgeries to prevent and treat blindness in 3,000 patients. In Auhora’s case, it was a simple, $270 surgery that restored her sight. "Now, I see." Auhora says with a smile.

Your gifts to ELCA World Hunger support this program and others like it in more than 60 countries around the world.

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