From Darkness to Hope: Help Lily See and Live Again

For Lily to live safely and with dignity in a secure two-room home designed to support her limited vision, enabling her to move freely and confidently in her daily life. For her to receive cataract surgery, restoring part of her sight and significantly improving her independence, wellbeing, and overall quality of life. With stable shelter and improved vision, Lily will be able to care for herself, participate more actively in her community, and regain a sense of hope for the future. In the long term, this project will contribute to a more compassionate society where vulnerable individuals are supported with both safe housing and access to essential healthcare, enabling them to live with dignity and opportunity.

Lily was abandoned at the gate of our homeless shelter in South Africa, with only a small plastic bag containing clothes and her ID. She is 99% blind due to cataracts and requires urgent surgery to restore some of her vision. Currently, she lives in a cramped tin shack, struggling with limited mobility and safety. We aim to rehome her into a safe, supportive two-room home and ensure she receives the cataract surgery she desperately needs.

Lily is living in a small 4x4m tin room with a mud floor, offering almost no protection against harsh winter conditions where temperatures drop to -2°C. This makes her situation life-threatening. Safe shelter is a basic human need, and her current conditions expose her to cold, dampness, and serious illness. Her cataracts further limit her ability to care for herself, increasing her vulnerability. The urgency is immediate, with winter approaching fast. Waiting is not an option, as the risk of hypothermia and respiratory illness rises sharply. Public healthcare cannot assist in time, with a two-year wait for cataract surgery. Private treatment, costing CHF 4,000, is the only viable option. If no action is taken, Lily’s health and survival are at serious risk. Immediate support to build a simple two-room home and fund her surgery is essential to ensure her safety, dignity, and independence.

Swiss4Afrika will implement two key interventions: safe housing and medical care. Activities / Services Build a simple two-room home with a small patio, including proper flooring, insulation, and weatherproofing. Arrange and fund private cataract surgery to restore Lily’s vision. Provide transport, post-surgery care, and follow-up support. Involve local community members in construction where possible. Resources Required: 10 000 CHF Infrastructure: Building materials and basic furnishings, 5 000 CHF Financial: Construction costs and CHF 4,000 for surgery. Personnel: Local builders, medical specialists, and project coordination. Logistics: Transport for materials and medical visits, 1 000 CHF. These measures will ensure Lily’s safety, health, and dignity.

We are seeking partners

Outputs: Construction of a safe two-room home with basic weather protection. Completion of private cataract surgery (CHF 4,000) and follow-up care. Outcomes: Immediate protection from extreme winter conditions, reducing risk of illness or death. Restored vision, improving independence and ability to perform daily tasks. Improved dignity, safety, and quality of life. Impact: Long-term reduction in vulnerability and reliance on emergency support. Improved health and living conditions enabling greater self-reliance. A scalable model combining housing and basic healthcare support for vulnerable individuals. The project delivers immediate relief while creating sustainable, life-changing improvements in safety, health, and dignity.

Special Quality of the Project & Suitability of our Organization This project is unique in combining urgent housing and essential medical care in one rapid-response intervention. It addresses both survival needs (safe shelter against extreme winter cold) and quality of life (restoration of sight) at the same time. This integrated approach ensures immediate protection while enabling long-term independence and dignity for Lily. Swiss4Afrika is well positioned to implement this project due to its hands-on experience in community-based development and humanitarian support in South Africa, including housing-related initiatives and direct aid programmes. The organisation has proven ability to coordinate local contractors, manage limited budgets effectively, and deliver practical solutions in vulnerable communities. Strong local partnerships with builders and healthcare providers, combined with Swiss governance and oversight, ensure transparency, accountability, and efficient implementatio