Raha International completes successful eye camp in Kenya
11 – 15 February 2010

Raha International, the educational charity set up by Asian sisters Daksha & Nimi Hirani, has completed a successful eye camp in Mwingi, Kenya, where qualified opticians examined over 800 patients. Funded by donations raised by British Asian optometrist Premal Patel and high street franchise ‘Specsavers’ who donated many of the spectacles, the eye camp took place from 11th-15th February 2010 in a local church in this rural area of Eastern Kenya. The team also identified 94 patients with cataracts, many of which were bilateral, making the total of cataract operations needed 146 in total. Others in need of attention were cases of trachoma, glaucoma, squamous cell carcinoma, children with congenital cataracts and various conditions due to oculocutaneous albinism.”

All those in need of immediate attention and treatment were taken to Kikuyu Hospital and the others are scheduled to be taken to Kikuyu Hospital for operations between the 22 and 25th of February. The Raha International eye camp also dispensed 396 pairs of spectacles, including reading glasses. Other activities over the five days included: distribution of essential stationary to local schools for over 600 students, some of which were provided by the Raha fair at Premier Academy in Nairobi and Provision of over four tonnes of relief food and clothing for the most deprived in the community.

Although Raha International is an educational charity, funding under privileged children through primary & secondary education and University, the charity takes a holistic approach to poverty alleviation and education. “We found the Mwingi area to be in need of many essential services. Poverty and a lack of education were particularly notable here and Raha plans to help the community further by sponsoring more children in the area through school” explained Raha co-founder Nimi Hirani.

“£250 will put a child through boarding school in Kenya: this includes books, boarding, meals and uniform and offers such great return on investment” added Nimi, “£9000 will fund an entire University education for a student. The real return on investment for donors is that this makes the individual self-sufficient. We find that our University students can go on to get good jobs and will then be able to look after their family, younger siblings and they also give back to the local community”

Breaking the cycle of dependency on aid is paramount to Raha International’s vision for the future. “We believe that educating children and looking after their well-being at an early age is the most effective long term solution for alleviating poverty and building the community.”

About Raha International

Raha International was set up in February 2008 as an educational charity, funding under privileged children through primary and secondary education and University. The main aim of Raha is to help children and young people become self-sufficient through education, health, community livelihood projects and other initiatives. Apart from directly funding students in boarding schools in Kenya, current education projects include building classrooms and playgrounds in schools and supplying them with stationary and books: Raha provides fresh food to schools and runs breakfast programs to increase attendance so that children who arrive to school are fed before start of classes. The charity is also working with the Kenya Paraplegic Association to provide wheelchairs for disabled Kenyan children.

£250 will fund one child through school for an entire year and £9000 will fund an entire University education for a student. Donations can be made via Paypal from the Raha International website. The charity is also interested in working with healthcare professionals who can donate their skills and services for future medical and eye camps. Visit Raha International www.rahainternational.com.