amexShapeShapeGroupArrow DesktopGroup 6Shapenoun_credit cards_942014diners-outlineShapeicon_donatenoun_Globe_1335341 (1)ShapeSlice 1mastercardicon_newsletterArrow Desktop“ copyicon_searchvisa
FHFV3 https://www.hollows.org/What We Do /home https://www.hollows.org/App_Themes/FHF/images/logo.svg
customer support [email protected] +61 2 8741 1999 +61 2 8741 1900
Level 2, 61 Dunning Ave 2018 Rosebery NSW, Australia
https://twitter.com/FredHollows http://www.youtube.com/user/FHFvideos https://instagram.com/fredhollows/
The Fred Hollows Foundation logo
Donate
US
  • Global
    English
  • United States
    English
  • Australia
    English
  • Hong Kong S.A.R
    English 繁 簡
  • United Kingdom
    English
  • United Arab Emirates
    Arabic English
  • Donate
  • Why Sight Matters
    • Eye Diseases
    • Impact of Vision Loss
    • Ending Avoidable Blindness
  • Who We Are
    • Professor Fred Hollows
    • Our People
  • What We Do
    • Our Strategy
    • How We Deliver Impact
    • Who We Help
    • Advocacy and Influencing
    • Gender, Equity and Inclusion
    • Innovation and Research
    • Global Campaigns
  • Where We Work
  • Join us
    • Partner With Us
    • Get Involved
    • Careers
Donate
Background Image

SHASHETU’S STORY

Who We Help

Shashetu needs her sight for her children and her livelihood. Trachoma, the agonising eye disease, was threatening to take this away from her.

Shashetu, a 25-year-old mother of two, makes a living weaving baskets and selling them at local markets. As the sole provider for her young family, she knows if she can’t see, she can’t work, and can’t feed her children.

Blinding trachoma had caused the inner surface of Shashetu’s eyelids to scar, turning her eyelashes inwards to painfully scratch the front of her eye. If left untreated, Shashetu’s eye would be so damaged, she’d be irreversibly blind. 

 

Many trachoma sufferers are mothers and children who unknowingly pass infection to each other with every hug or touch.

Trachoma is at crisis levels in Ethiopia. In Shashetu’s area alone over 155,000 people urgently need a sight-saving operation.

 
 

Shashetu's life-changing journey with trachoma

Subscribe to our channel here


With the help of our supporters, Shashetu had the operation she so desperately needed. We also gave her children antibiotics to break the vicious cycle of reinfection between mother and child. 

 

Three months later, Shashetu was transformed. The piercing pain that plagued her had gone, and her face now had a beautiful smile.
 


The Fred Hollows Foundation is working hard to train doctors, health workers, nurses and mobile teams to travel around Ethiopia and deliver vital surgery to people like Shashetu

 

“I no longer worry about going blind one day.

I no longer worry about my children’s future.”

- Shashetu

Donate by phone

+1-646-868-8986
Donate Now Share with friends Subscribe to newsletter
"> "> "> ">
  • The Foundation
  • Annual Reports
  • Professor Fred Hollows
  • Our People
  • News and Updates
  • Eye Health
  • Research
  • Sight Simulator
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Donate now
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Security
  • Complaints
  • Safeguarding & Policies
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Security
  • Complaints
  • Safeguarding & Policies
  • Sitemap

The Fred Hollows Foundation (USA) is a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organisation, EIN: 82-2851329

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Fred Hollows Foundation is a member of The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and is compliant with the ACFID code of conduct.

The Fred Hollows Foundation has safeguards and policies that guide its work.

All content © 2020 The Fred Hollows Foundation. All rights reserved. ABN 46 070 556 642


The Fred Hollows Foundation (USA) is a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organisation, EIN: 82-2851329

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Fred Hollows Foundation USA has attained the Platinum Seal of Transparency on GuideStar.

The Fred Hollows Foundation has safeguards and policies that guide its work.

All content © 2020 The Fred Hollows Foundation. All rights reserved. ABN 46 070 556 642