Bringing the Gift of Sight to Remote Communities in Kenya

10–15 August 2026 | Tana River & Lamu Counties, Kenya

In August 2026, Make A Change Foundation (MAC) funded and supported one of its most ambitious humanitarian projects to date — a major eye care camp reaching some of the most remote communities across Tana River and Lamu Counties in Kenya.

From 10th to 15th August 2026, doctors, medical professionals, support staff and volunteers came together to provide free eye care and sight-restoring surgery to communities where access to specialist treatment can be extremely limited.

The main camp was based at Garsen Health Centre in Tana River County, with regional screening taking place at 23 locations across an approximate 150-kilometre radius of the base camp.

5,292 People Screened and 609 Surgeries Completed

The results of the six-day camp were remarkable.

• 5,292 people screened
• 609 surgeries completed at Garsen
• 17 further hospital referral surgeries fully funded by MAC
• 2,076 reading glasses provided
• 674 protective glasses provided
• 238 refractions carried out
• 5,925 medicines dispensed
• 1,480 post-operative medicines provided
• 23 remote locations reached

The 609 surgeries were completed at Garsen during the camp. A further 17 patients required referral to hospital because their surgeries could not be completed at the camp. All 17 referral surgeries have subsequently been carried out and fully funded by Make A Change Foundation.

This means that 626 patients have benefited from surgery through the Kenya Eye Camp 2026 programme.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Behind every patient screened was someone seeking help with their eyesight. Behind every surgery was someone whose vision could be improved or restored — potentially helping them return to work, become more independent, care for their families or simply enjoy everyday life with better sight.

Reaching Those Who Are Hardest to Reach

The camp was designed to take eye care to the people, rather than expecting patients to travel long distances to a central facility.

Screening was carried out across 23 remote locations covering an approximate 150-kilometre geographical radius from Garsen.

The logistics involved were enormous.

The region includes rivers, difficult terrain and remote communities. In some instances, boats had to be used to cross rivers so that teams and volunteers could reach the local screening centres.

At the same time, the main operation at Garsen had to continue, with patients requiring surgery being assessed and treated.

Setting up and running the base camp, while simultaneously mobilising patients and teams across more than 20 remote locations, required an extraordinary amount of planning, transport, coordination and local knowledge.

There were also security challenges associated with working in some of these remote areas. We are therefore extremely grateful to the Kenya Police, who provided security support for volunteers and medical teams travelling to the various screening centres.

We also thank the local government authorities in Tana River and Lamu Counties for granting permission for the camp and for their cooperation in allowing the programme to operate across the two counties.

Working Together as Equal Partners

The Kenya Eye Camp was delivered through a close partnership between Make A Change Foundation and two valued organisations from Mombasa:

• Shree Cutchhi Leva Patel Samaj, Mombasa
• Shree Cutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple, Mombasa

Both organisations worked together as equal partners, providing approximately 100 volunteers who gave their time freely throughout the camp.

Around 300 people were involved in total, including approximately 200 professional and support staff and 100 volunteers.

The volunteers played an essential role in the success of the camp, helping with patient mobilisation, transport, meals, accommodation, cleaning, administration and supporting the medical teams.

We are also grateful to Light House for Christ Eye Centre, who provided the professional medical staff and expertise required to deliver the screening and surgical programme.

The contribution of everyone involved — from doctors and medical professionals to volunteers and support staff — was vital in allowing the camp to operate on such a large scale.

The Support Behind the Camp

The entire Kenya Eye Camp 2026 was funded by Make A Change Foundation, at a total cost of approximately £65,000.

The scale and complexity of the operation meant that the final cost was higher than the original indicative budget. The additional costs reflected the considerable logistical requirements of reaching remote communities, mobilising patients, transporting teams and equipment, and establishing and operating the base camp.

The project was made possible through the generosity of MAC’s supporters. In total, more than £180,000 was raised, including Gift Aid claimed by Make A Change Foundation.

That generosity is helping MAC support projects where relatively straightforward medical intervention can make a profound difference to people’s lives.

More Than a Medical Camp

It is easy to look at the figures and see only numbers.

But behind 5,292 people screened are thousands of individual stories.

Behind 609 completed surgeries are 609 people whose lives may now be different because they were given access to treatment.

And behind the 17 referral surgeries are another 17 people who have received treatment funded by Make A Change Foundation.

For some, improved sight may mean returning to work. For others, it may mean greater independence. For a parent, it may mean seeing their children clearly. For a younger person, it may mean many more years of education, work and opportunity.

That is why the Kenya Eye Camp matters.

It is not simply about treating eyes. It is about changing lives.

Camp Videos

Thank You

Make A Change Foundation would like to express its sincere gratitude to everyone who made the Kenya Eye Camp 2026 possible.

Our heartfelt thanks go to:

• Shree Cutchhi Leva Patel Samaj, Mombasa
• Shree Cutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple, Mombasa
• Light House for Christ Eye Centre
• The Kenya Police
• The local government authorities in Tana River and Lamu Counties
• The doctors, medical professionals and support staff
• All of the volunteers
• Our donors and supporters
• And, most importantly, the communities and patients who welcomed the teams and placed their trust in us.

The camp involved enormous logistical challenges, remote locations, difficult terrain and an extraordinary amount of planning and hard work.

But the objective was simple:

To give people the gift of sight.

And together, we made it happen.

Make A Change Foundation — Making a difference, one life at a time.