“Happiness is in our home again”

When siblings Zayn and Saira began falling behind at school, their mother, Masuma, didn’t realise they were struggling with their sight.

“The children kept saying that they couldn’t see properly and were having difficulty reading, but we believed they were just trying to escape schoolwork,” said Masuma.

Masuma didn’t realise that Zayn and Saira’s vision was blurry and learning had become a daily struggle.

“They had difficulty seeing in the dark, going outside, attending school, and even going for tuition. Each time, they complained that they could not see properly.”

Masuma was very worried about Zayn and Saira. Living in a remote area of Gilgit-Baltistan, the family live far away from eye care services and were also unable to afford pairs of glasses for both children.

“There is no eye specialist here. There is only a small hospital, where sometimes a doctor is available and sometimes not. Medicines are also limited. Because of this, we were under a lot of stress,” said Masuma.

Thankfully, help came through a Sightsavers-supported programme. The children’s teacher had been trained to identify students with sight problems and carry out basic eye tests.

Sightsavers works alongside local health and education authorities to provide basic eye care in schools and ensure that no child misses out on learning. A pair of glasses can reduce the odds of a child failing in class by 44 per cent.

“Later, the teacher called me to the school and explained that my children had eyesight problems and were falling behind in their studies because of it. She advised me to get their eyes checked and treated,” said Masuma.

The next day, Zayn and Saira had their eyes checked at school and were each given a pair of glasses. Now, when the children come home, they talk about the future. Zayn wants to be a police officer, while Saira wants to be a religious scholar.

“Thanks to the team, our children can read, write and dream. We feel hope again. We can imagine a future where they succeed.

“Our worries have reduced greatly. There is peace and happiness in our home again,” said Masuma.