March 2023 saw our second successful ‘Gift of Vision’ Eye Camp completed in the Sunamgonj district of Sylhet, Bangladesh. The purpose of the eye camp is to help restore vision for those who are in dire need of treatment; whether that is something simple as glasses, anti-bacterial drops, or more complicated cataract surgery. All patients were also given the option for follow up appointments in the future if required.
Over 750 patients were seen to with over 65 cataract surgeries taken place and a further 10 specialist eye care surgery being required. This was a free eye camp held for the poor to help them with there vision.
After a successful crowdfunding campaign and raising over £20,000 in donations, it was time to carry out our first set of projects. The projects as set out were to build 15 deep water wells dotted around remote villages and conduct the ‘Gift of Vision’ eye camp in Bangladesh. All the planning was done in London and on 20th March 2019, we set off on our first journey to Bangladesh to see where all your generous donations will be used.
The plan always was to see the lives changed by The Aydin Foundations projects. The most needed locations for these water wells were scouted based on specific criteria. The aim was to help those in desperate need of clean water.
Our researchers identified key remote villages and spoke to those who had no access to clean water; who’d travel for miles just to be drinking out of dirty lakes. Each water well was designed to help over 20 families and provide access to clean drinking water for at least 40 years.
The locals were thrilled upon hearing the news of a water well being built by The Aydin Foundation in there village. Work had started on 6th March 2019 with the intention to complete most of the wells by the end of March. Excavations were deep at some places, reaching up to 800 feet. We specifically instructed the deep water wells as these have a longer life span then conventional wells. The plaques were designed and feedback was received from the local villagers who were often in tears of joy.
One particular water well benefited a household where the bread winner was a blind man who needed constant looking after. His name was Hafiz Jahidur islam and was an Imam for the local mosque who had memorised the Quran just by listening to it. Jahids home is in a remote part of Sylhet, Bangladesh where it’s inaccessible by car. The water well built here would serve the desolate villagers for at least 35-40 years and it was one of the deepest we’d built at close to 800 feet.
Upon visiting these completed water wells; together with the project coordinator, we had provided detailed information about safe water practises and how to avoid water borne diseases. The clean water project built 15 deep water wells in remote parts of Bangladesh, all thank you to your donations.
