Happiness's Story

Happiness's future is looking brighter

For Violet, there was never any doubt.

After her daughter, Happiness, suffered a traumatic eye injury at home, neighbours encouraged her to seek traditional medicine. But Violet knew her daughter needed specialist eye care.

Finding that care was not easy.

Like many families living in remote parts of Kenya, accessing specialist eye health services meant travelling long distances and facing costs that were simply out of reach. Without treatment, Happiness risked permanent vision loss.

Fortunately, help was available.

Photo credit: Mark Maina

With support from the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), The Fred Hollows Foundation is helping connect communities across Kenya with life-changing eye health services, ensuring more children can receive the treatment they need before it's too late.

When Happiness was referred for surgery, The Foundation made sure cost would not stand in the way. Every expense was covered, including transport to the hospital, accommodation for the family and the surgery itself.

The operation was a success.

For Violet, it was an enormous relief to see her daughter on the path to recovery.

After everything they had been through, she is now filled with hope for Happiness's future.

Happiness is looking ahead too. With her eyesight restored, she dreams of one day becoming a nun and serving her community.

Photo credit: Mark Maina

Her story is one of thousands made possible through stronger access to eye health care in Kenya.

Across the country, many children are still living with vision problems that can be treated or prevented when care is available early enough. Reaching families in remote communities remains essential, particularly where access to specialist eye care is limited.

With the support of generous donors, The Fred Hollows Foundation is helping make that possible. In 2025 alone, more than 507,000 people were screened for eye conditions across Kenya, while more than 88,000 eye operations and treatments were performed, including more than 15,700 cataract operations. More than 2,500 community health workers were also trained to identify and refer people needing care, helping ensure more families like Happiness's can access sight-saving treatment.

Because every child deserves the chance to see clearly, learn, dream and build the future they choose.