Where we work

Sightsavers’ programmes began in Africa in the 1950s, and we now work in more than 30 countries across Africa and Asia.

Our programmes cover northern and central Africa and Asia, in the countries highlighted in white on the map

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Our global history

Sightsavers’ first programmes started in the 1950s in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

In the 1960s and 1970s our work expanded into Asia, with our first projects in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and we continued to extend our work into several other African countries. Most recently, we started work in Yemen in 2018.

We now work in more than 30 countries, and have project offices in 25 of these countries. We also have fundraising offices in the UK, Ireland, United States, Italy and Norway.

Read about our latest work

A cameraman walks backwards to capture a woman walking down a road. She is carrying a container on her head.
Sightsavers stories
Stories / Fighting disease /

“Action!”: Stories from Ghana

Sightsavers’ Jo Glyde goes behind the scenes during the making of our film about lymphatic filariasis with BBC StoryWorks.

Saudat, wearing a grey hijab, smiles broadly.
Sightsavers stories
Stories / Women and girls /

Invest in women: How the SABI-Woman project is changing lives

In Nigeria, Saudat now runs her own business after taking part in a Sightsavers-supported programme.

A boy wearing a football jersey sits on a stone wall smiling. He is wearing a pair of glasses.
Sightsavers stories
Stories / Eye health /

“Happiness is in our home again”

When Zayn and Saira first began falling behind at school, their mother didn’t realise they were struggling with their vision. But the solution was simple: they needed a pair of glasses.

How one couple’s vision helped millions to see

About our founders