Page 16 - 2016 Annual Report

CASE STUDY: BURUNDI

LEONIDES’ STORY

Childhood blindness can be a death sentence in a
country like Burundi, one of the poorest nations
in the world. That was the grim reality facing
seven-year-old Leonides. Every day Leonides
would sit alone in a small mud-brick house,
unable to go to school or play with his friends “It’s good honest work
because of cataracts in both his eyes. Sometimes
he would kick the walls in frustration. But when you walk into
Leonides’ mum Juliette refused to give up hope.
She trekked all day to get to a clinic which was a ward where people
supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation. Dr
Levi Kandeke, the only paediatric ophthalmologist have had good eye
in Burundi, successfully restored Leonides’ sight.
When Leonides returned to his village he was surgery and you can
met with a joyous welcome. Neighbours, family
and friends erupted in song and dance when see them looking at
they saw he could see.
Leonides is now going to you and their whole
school and is proof of the
transformative nature face lights up.”
of our work. Giving him
sight has given him a
future. “I can’t sincerely – Fred Hollows
explain how very happy I
am,” Juliette said.

THE FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2016 | HOLLOWS.ORG