In fIeld update:
This is Ajamiel and yesterday he celebrated his 10th birthday by receiving sight-saving surgery! His mom said it was the best birthday gift he could ever have. Ajamiel likes basketball and is a big fan of Stephen Curry. We hope he will get to play his own game of basketball now and show the Golden State Warriors how it’s done. 💪
*This photo is post surgery and his eyes were still a bit watery.
Photo credit: Oscar Minyo
Project 17 Update 8/23/19:
Smiling ear to ear because we are headed in field for Project 17 today! Starting tomorrow our updates will be coming live from eMite’s Team in Manila and Cebu City. Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram to see in field posts.
For Project 17, eMite has the opportunity to change the life of a child by restoring sight to their eyes.
Get involved today and Give Your Mite to Project 17.
Photo: Children Of All Nations
Project 17 Insight 8/20/19:
It’s estimated that 1.4 million children are blind worldwide. In Africa and parts of Asia, up to 15/10,000 children are blind, compared to 3/10,000 children in Europe and North America; nutritional factors and infections are more common in developing countries. (Community Eye Health)
What are cataracts in children? A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Normally the lens is clear (transparent).
“Cataracts keep light rays from passing through the lens and focusing on the retina. The retina is the tissue lining at the back of the eye that’s sensitive to light. Cataracts may happen when the protein that makes up the lens gets cloudy. This affects your child’s vision.” (Standford Children’s Health) A child may be born with a congenital cataract due to other eye, health, or genetic problems such as a metabolic disorder or down syndrome.
Young children with dense cataracts will not develop vision properly as long as the cataracts are interfering with vision. It’s vital that surgery be performed quickly after diagnosis so that vision will develop properly.
Childhood blindness has far reaching effects on the child and family throughout life and can often be treated or cured.
Together we are changing children’s lives through Project 17. Join us today and give the gift of sight! #GiveYourMite
Project 17 update 8/15/19:
We are one week away from being in field and we cannot wait! We will provide sight giving surgery to poor children who do not have the resources to pay for such a medical procedure. Cataract surgery improves children’s quality of life immensely.
Get involved today by giving to Project 17! From our viewpoint your donation is as valuable as the love and life represented in it. Every donation counts no matter the size. #GiveYourMite
Project 17 Insight 8/14/19:
Meet Jella and Jhia, 8 year old twins with congenital cataract. In 2009, they were among 16 children who received life changing cataract surgery provided by Resources for the Blind International. Now they are able to attend school, help their parents at home, and play with their friends. There life completely changed because they can see.
eMite has an incredible opportunity to partner with RBI and provide 14 children with cataract surgeries this August. Get involved today and help a child see.
Project 17 update 8/8/19:
All the children receiving cataract surgeries will require general anesthesia due to the importance of laying still during surgery. When the child comes out of anesthesia, the “Aha!” moment is almost immediate according to Resources for the Blind. How cool is that!
Each child will be traveling with a parent, family member, or guardian to and from the hospital. Both the child and guardian will receive meals and lodging overnight. The child’s ophthalmologist will see them directly after eye surgery to make sure everything is progressing well.
We are looking forward to sharing the “Aha” moment with all of you in less than 3 weeks! #GiveYourMite
Project 17 Insight 8/6/19:
Blindness & Visual Impairment Facts:
-Worldwide, about 217 million people have low vision, and about 36 million are blind.
- About 90% of the world's visually impaired live in low-income settings.
- 80% of visual impairment can be prevented or cured.
- Unoperated cataract remains the leading cause of blindness in low- and middle-income countries.
(WHO, Fact Sheet #282, 2017)
Partner with us and Resources for the Blind International to bring support, encouragement, and hope to children who are blind in the Philippines. Give the gift of sight today! #GiveYourMite
Project 17 update 8/1/19:
We are less than one month away from eMite’s Team to be on the ground in the Philippines! In partnership with Resources for the Blind International we will be providing cataract surgery for ten children in North Manila and four children in Central Cebu. The children identified are from far barrios (villages) and are all indigent cases. We are overjoyed to change the life of children by restoring their sight. Join us today by giving your Mite! #GiveYourMite