Widows of the 1994 Genocide Against The Tutsi

Through Clinic-Based and Mobile Outreach Ophthalmology Services

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About AVEGA Agahozo

Established in 1995, AVEGA Agahozo is a Rwandan non-profit organization founded by widows of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Headquartered in Kigali, AVEGA was born out of a profound need for healing, solidarity, and reconstruction after immense personal and national loss.

Today, AVEGA supports over 19,000 widows and more than 71,000 dependents through four core pillars:

• Health care

• Women’s rights advocacy

• Social protection

• Peacebuilding and reconciliation

These integrated services provide trauma counseling, legal assistance, medical treatment, and economic empowerment to thousands of survivors. As its members age, AVEGA continues to adapt its programs to meet their evolving needs, ensuring that no survivor is left behind.

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Current Challenges in Eye Care

With a growing population of elderly widows and vulnerable rural residents, AVEGA faces an urgent need to expand its eye care services. Many of these individuals suffer from preventable or treatable conditions such as:

• Cataracts

• Glaucoma

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Refractive errors

Currently, outreach and clinic-based care are significantly limited by the lack of specialized ophthalmology equipment. Without the necessary tools for accurate diagnosis and surgical intervention, many patients face avoidable vision loss and a diminished quality of life.

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A milestone I never thought I would live to see!

This year, I celebrate my 50th birthday, an age I never imagined reaching as a survivor of the genocide. So many of us grew up without our parents, many of whom never lived to see 50 themselves.

Today, many survivors live alone, without children or partners to support them. Their vision is fading, and they lack access to even basic eye care.

To honor this milestone, I’m not asking for personal gifts. Instead, I invite my family, friends, and partners to contribute toward a cause close to my heart: equipping an eye clinic to serve our elders and vulnerable community members.

Your donation will help us purchase essential ophthalmic equipment like slit lamps, surgical instruments, and refraction units, ensuring access to compassionate, quality eye care for those who have already endured so much.

Together, we can restore dignity and vision one person at a time.

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Project Objectives

1. Expand access to comprehensive ophthalmic care for genocide widows and underserved populations.

2. Reduce preventable blindness and visual impairment through early diagnosis and intervention.

3. Strengthen AVEGA’s service capacity by equipping its clinic and mobile outreach teams with modern ophthalmology tools.

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Expected Outcomes

• 2,000+ individuals screened annually through clinic and outreach services.

• 500+ eye surgeries performed, including cataract and glaucoma procedures.

• 40% of patients diagnosed with refractive errors will receive prescription eyeglasses.

• Improved community awareness of eye health in rural and underserved regions.

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Equipment Needs and Budget

No. Equipment Description Estimated Cost (USD)

1 Digital Vision Chart $799

2 Full Slit Lamp $7,800

3 Ophthalmoscope $2,892

4 Trial Set with Adjustable Frame (Adult) $800

5 Auto Refractometer with Motorized Table $1,500

6 Phacoemulsification Surgical Unit $8,994

7 Retinoscope $470

8 Lensometer $680

9 Microsurgical Instruments $2,980

10 Refraction Chair and Stand Unit $2,700

11 Portable Slit Lamp $1,900

Total Estimated Cost $31,900

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Join Us in Restoring Sight and Dignity

Your partnership can change lives. By supporting this initiative, you will help thousands of elderly survivors and underserved individuals regain their vision and with it, their independence, confidence, and hope.

Donate today. Together, we can bring light back into their lives.