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May 2026 News Wrap — our work, successes and impact
More than 70 people, most of them children, have regained their sight after a successful eye care outreach at Hoima Referral Hospital in Uganda.
In Uganda, the cost of a single life-changing eye surgery makes vision care unreachable for many families. Through the Child Eye Health programme “1, 2, 3 I can see!” Light for the World is working to close that gap.
Led by senior ophthalmologist Dr Ssali Grace of Mulago Hospital, the team delivered more than 70 free eye surgeries at Hoima Referral Hospital. They treated cataracts, glaucoma and other eye conditions and brought expert care directly to families.
“Addressing child eye health is a direct investment in social and economic development,” said Lovincer Nantongo, Programme Manager.
“The cost of surgery effectively locks many families out of the healthcare system, turning avoidable visual impairments into lifelong barriers. Delivering these free, high-quality surgeries is how we bridge the gap between policy and real-world impact.”
Ethiopia launches Strategy 2026–2030 for inclusion and eye health
Light for the World Ethiopia has officially launched its Strategy 2026–2030, setting out a five-year plan to drive lasting change in eye health, disability rights and inclusive development.
The high-level workshop in Addis Ababa brought together government representatives, donors including the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and UNICEF, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), civil society and international partners.
Suadik Hassen, Country Director of Light for the World Ethiopia, said the strategy represents a renewed commitment to partnership, inclusion and systems change.
“People with disabilities and people with eye conditions should be recognised not as programme participants, but as leaders and drivers of transformation within their communities and across society,” he said.
Sisay Tilahun, Chief Executive Officer of the Disability Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MOWSA), called for coordinated efforts across government, civil society, the private sector and communities to make inclusion standard practice rather than an exception.
Building inclusive education in South Sudan
A new generation of inclusive educators is taking shape at Rombur National Teachers Training Institute in South Sudan.
A third cohort of student teachers are sitting their first-year examinations after completing intensive training in sign language and braille.
Over a three-year programme, these future educators are gaining the practical skills to support learners with visual, hearing, physical and intellectual disabilities in mainstream classrooms. Upon graduation, they will apply these skills in schools and communities, strengthening inclusive teaching practices and improving learning outcomes for all learners.
The integration of sign language and braille into teacher training marks a significant step toward equitable access to education for learners who are blind, partially sighted, deaf or hard of hearing.
As a technical partner on the project — funded and led by Education Cannot Wait and Save the Children —, Light for the World continues to provide technical support to teachers in the National Teacher Training Institutes. The programme also supports learners with disabilities across South Sudan’s education sector, including those in hard-to-reach areas.
Talent without limit: Uganda’s inclusive career fair
Light for the World Uganda has brought together 400 jobseekers with disabilities and 27 employers at an inclusive career fair in Kampala.
The fair was a partnership between Light for the World, Brighter Monday Uganda, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda.It also welcomed the Federation of Uganda Employers, which represents more than 600 small and medium enterprises, alongside OPDs and international organisations. Around 10 employers committed to becoming mentors and offering job-shadowing opportunities to young women and men with disabilities.
The event spotlighted the We Can Work programme‘s #PlayTheFullDeck campaign on inclusive employment. The campaign supports young women and men with disabilities in seven African countries to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.
In case you missed it…
- Donors and partners from the Austrian Development Agency, Light for the World, CARE Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and the Austrian Red Cross visited Bilate Zuria and Hawassa Zuria Woredas to assess progress on the Livelihood for Resilience (L4R) project.
- 2026 is another year packed with elections. Our latest newsletter focused on inclusive voting — subscribe so you don’t miss future issues.
- Looking for a new role? Browse our open positions.
