In a bustling village in Homa Bay County, Kenya, Frida Akinyi, 51, sat at her wooden workbench, her hands trembling over the familiar fabric. For almost 10 years, she had been the to-go-to seamstress in her community. Her skill with a needle and thread brought life to weddings, festivals, and everyday wear.

But in recent months, Frida had faced an unsettling reality — her eyes were failing her. Being the sole provider of her nine children, six of who were in school, she felt disheartened. She squinted, struggling to thread the needle that had always felt so at home in her hands.

Mean while, the frustration was mounting, not only in her but more so in the community. Customers began to seek other tailors, and her income dwindled. Frida did not have the money to see an ophthalmologist but was hoping for a solution to her poor vision.

One day, she heard about a free eye screening that was taking place at Kendu Adventist Hospital. Though she was skeptical, she decided to give it a try, as she would do anything for her family.

 She patiently waited in line early in the morning trying to be as optimistic as possible. Finally, it was her turn. The nurse explained the screening process and handed her a reading glasses self-screening chart in Luo, her native tongue. Her eyes glanced over the page as she realized she was unable to make out any of the words. She nervously told the nurse, “I can’t see anything.”

The nurse handed her a pair of reading glasses and, to her amazement, after putting then on, she was able to read the smallest line with no problem at all! She could do nothing else but smile; she was so grateful that this one pair of glasses could help her and her family. All a long, she had been suffering from Presbyopia, a refractive error that occurs when the lens of the eye hardens and loses elasticity, making it difficult to focus light on the retina. The condition usually begins around age 40 and worsens over time. It has no cure but can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. 

With a renewed sense of hope, Frida thanked the nurse and told her just how much this would changed her life. Her gratitude to the Africa Clear Sight Project was boundless. The Kendu Adventist Hospital staff took time to follow up on Frida, who narrated to them the difference that pair of glasses had made in her life.

She feels more confident in her work, adeptly manipulating the thread and needle as she had always done before she got Presbyopia. The reading glasses not only restored her vision but also provided her with the ability to work again and provide for her family.

Frida began telling her story to her family and friends, encouraging them to seek help for their vision problems. Now, her shop stands as a testament to the power of interventions that might seem small but make a huge difference in the lives of the people they touch. She not only threads needles but sews hope into her community, one stitch at a time.

Click here to learn more about the Africa Clear Sight Partnership Project