The Eyes of Hope: Stéphanie Kahindo’s Brave Battle Against a Silent Threat

In the hills of Munigi, just north of Goma in the Nyiragongo territory, a quiet but powerful story of courage is unfolding. Six-year-old Stéphanie Kahindo has been fighting a life-altering eye infection since she was just six months old — a battle made even harder by the harsh conditions of poverty and limited access to medical care.

What began as a simple swelling and redness in her right eye has now developed into a severe infection, leading to total deformation of the eye in recent months. Her mother, Kavugho Siwako, recounts the heartbreaking journey with tears in her eyes:"It was at six months that the complications began. But the deformation appeared just two months ago. At the hospital, no one will treat her because I can’t afford it. Watching my child suffer like this has broken me. I’ve lost all hope."

But where hope seemed to fade, help arrived. The NGO Defender of Blind Right in Africa (D-BRAF) sent a team to assess Stephanie’s condition and is now calling for urgent medical intervention to save her remaining vision — and restore her childhood.

Stéphanie’s story is not just about illness; it’s about resilience. It’s about the silent struggles of children in forgotten corners of our world — and the incredible strength they show even in the face of suffering.

🌍 D-BRAF is now actively seeking partners and donors to ensure that Stéphanie receives the treatment she desperately needs. Her story is a call to action for all who believe in the right to health and dignity for every child.

➡️ Join us in bringing light back into Stéphanie’s life. Because no child should suffer in silence.

#EyesOfHope #StandWithStephanie #HealthForAll #DBRAF #GomaStories #ChildRights #HopeInAction

Stéphanie Kahindo