Welcome to Focus magazine!
Welcome to your first issue of Focus for 2024: get ready to be inspired! In these uncertain and often difficult times, you are saving sight, transforming people’s lives and supporting the changes we need to build a fairer, more equal world.
One of the things I love most about Sightsavers is that it empowers people, whether it’s a person having their sight restored through cataract surgery, a community being freed from blinding trachoma, or a student seeing the chalkboard at school after receiving a free pair of glasses. The results are amazing to see: in my view, this is what sustainability is about.
Sightsavers focuses on the human being, irrespective of their gender, race or disability. I think it’s a very important thing. You’ll find lots of examples on these pages, and I hope you’ll keep giving us your wonderful support. Thank you.
My very best wishes,
Fatoumata Diouf
Sightsavers regional director for West Africa
Read the print version of the magazine here
Download Focus (pdf)Fighting trachoma in Kenya
Read the story
Your opinion matters
Join Sightsavers’ Insights community and make your voice count. Share your thoughts about Sightsavers’ websites through surveys, interviews and more. Get involved
Meet Zahra in Pakistan
“My glasses have been a very positive addition to my life.” Zahra is one of the many children now thriving thanks to our programme to screen school students for eye conditions and health problems.
Read her story and learn about the programme
Inspirational eye health advocates
In Malawi, Wilson was treated for cataracts and shared his experiences with the local community. This helped to dispel fears about eye health and encouraged others to visit Sightsavers’ eye screening camps.
Learn about Wilson and his friends
Activism in action
The Netflix film ‘Can You See Us?’ is about Sightsavers’ campaign ambassador John Chiti and aims to change how people think about albinism.
Based on John’s life, the film raises awareness of the challenges people with albinism experience across Africa, such as social stigma and alienation.
Watch the trailer or learn more about the film.
Blazing a trail
“As a woman, you’re always trying to prove you belong.” Meet Dr Jalikatu Mustapha who is currently the only female ophthalmologist in Sierra Leone.
Read Dr Jalikatu’s story
A woman’s place
Disability rights activist Abia Akram is one of an inspirational group of women defying discrimination to give a voice to people with disabilities.
Read their stories
Our fundraising heroes
From skydiving to travelling 2,000 miles in a tuk tuk, there’s no shortage of ways to help tackle avoidable blindness and fight for disability rights.
Meet the fundraisers
You can make a difference
