Light for the World

From restored sight in Uganda to inclusive classrooms in South Sudan, May was a month of progress for eye health and disability inclusion.

In Uganda, more than 70 people (most of them children) regained their sight through free eye surgeries at Hoima Referral Hospital. Led by senior ophthalmologist Dr Grace Ssali, the team treated cataracts, glaucoma and other conditions through our Child Eye Health programme "1, 2, 3 I can see!".

In Ethiopia, Light for the World launched its Strategy 2026–2030 for eye health, disability rights and inclusive development, bringing together government, donors and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in Addis Ababa.

In South Sudan, a third cohort of student teachers sat their first-year exams after training in sign language and braille at Rombur National Teachers Training Institute — building inclusive education for learners who are blind, partially sighted, deaf or hard of hearing. Delivered as technical partner on a project funded and led by Education Cannot Wait​ (ECW)​ and Save the Children International​.

In Uganda, the Talent Without Limit career fair in Kampala connected 400 jobseekers with disabilities to 27 employers, spotlighting the We Can Work programme's campaign on inclusive employment.

Read the full news wrap: https://www.light-for-the-world.org/news/child-eye-health-outreach-restores-sight/

May News Wrap: Uganda child eye health outreach restores sight for over 70 people - Light for the World International Light for the World Uganda's child eye health outreach restores sight for over 70 people. Plus Ethiopia's new strategy, South Sudan teachers and Kampala jobs.

A new employment programme. A national newspaper feature. A graduation ceremony. An award-winning project extended.
April was a busy month at Light for the World.

In Kenya, more than 100 young people with and without disabilities have joined the RISE programme, building skills and pathways into employment alongside Sightsavers and the Standard Chartered Foundation.

In Ethiopia, 78 young people celebrated graduating from the programme, with new skills, technical training and entrepreneurship plans in hand.

In Burkina Faso, the award-winning IMPACT-BF inclusive humanitarian programme has been extended to late 2027, reaching four more municipalities.

And in South Sudan, The Telegraph featured the Bright Stars, the national blind football team aiming for the Paralympic Games.

Read the April news wrap:

April News Wrap: Young people join RISE employment programme in Kenya - Light for the World International More than 100 young people have joined the RISE programme in Kenya, building skills and pathways into inclusive employment. Plus updates from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

What started with just two players during lockdown in 2020 has become something extraordinary.

The Telegraph has featured our blind football programme in South Sudan, telling the story of the Bright Stars — a team now competing internationally, with their sights set on the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

As striker Yona Sabri Ellon put it: "It is through football that we will achieve lasting peace in South Sudan."

Read their story here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/the-rise-and-rise-of-south-sudans-blind-footballers/

From lockdown to Los Angeles: the rise and rise of South Sudan’s blind footballers In six years, the Bright Stars have gone from training in a dusty field to preparing for the Paralympics

March news wrap: Here's what happened last month across our programmes:

🟡 We launched our Kenya Strategy 2030, positioning disability inclusion as a systems issue: a national milestone with global relevance.

👓 Mozambique's President distributed eyeglasses to pupils at a school opening, spotlighting the “1,2,3 I can see!” child eye health programme.

🌱 The Livelihoods for Resilience (L4R) programme kicked off in Ethiopia's Sidama Region.

Read more: https://www.light-for-the-world.org/news/march-news-wrap-light-for-the-world-kenya-launches-new-strategy-for-disability-inclusion/

Light for the World Kenya

Our latest News Wrap is here, spotlighting how we drive disability inclusion in humanitarian action, sports, and healthcare:

🔹 Bridging the gap between policy and practice to ensure emergency responses reach everyone

🔹 Training football coaches to promote peace and inclusion through sport

🔹 Shaping employment systems and working with governments for disability rights

🔹 Making sexual and reproductive health services accessible to all, including people with disabilities

Read the full wrap-up: https://www.light-for-the-world.org/news/february-news-wrap-leaving-no-one-behind-in-humanitarian-action/

February News Wrap: leaving no one behind in humanitarian action - Light for the World International Light for the World's February News Wrap, with disability inclusion and eye health news from Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Zero Conference.

Our humanitarian action project IMPACT-BF in Burkina Faso has received a Zero Project Award 2026. This recognition highlights that inclusive humanitarian action is possible.

IMPACT-BF Project Manager, Tihanibie Ghislain Hien, explains what this means for communities in Burkina Faso:

“For the populations affected by crisis, this award clearly shows that the inclusion of people with disabilities in humanitarian projects and programmes is possible. Light for the World is setting an example as part of International Partnerships Austria.”

Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) are not only partners. They are leaders in shaping more inclusive responses:

“OPDs are central to the IMPACT-BF project. By establishing advocacy groups, identifying project participants and encouraging other organisations to make reasonable accommodations, their leadership is ensuring that no one is left behind.”

IMPACT-BF also offers clear guidance for future humanitarian work:

“Capacity strengthening for humanitarian actors and OPDs is key to opening the door to developing and implementing projects that take people with disabilities into account at all stages of the project cycle.”

Thank you Zero Project for supporting inclusive humanitarian action in Burkina Faso.

Picture: (from left) Michael Fembek, H.E. Ms. Maimounata Ouattara, Lucy Nkirote Nyaga, Tihanibie Ghislain Hien, Martin Essl ®Zero Project / Rupert Pessl

New experts joined Light for the World in 2025, while existing colleagues shared insights at international events. 🌟

Read more about our team: https://www.light-for-the-world.org/news/14-good-news-stories-in-2025/