Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk

The roots of the Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk (DBHW) go back more than fifty years to the care of war-blind people in convalescent homes. In the 1980s, the organisation adapted to the changed circumstances and has since focused on international projects in the areas of eye health and education – and therefore fits perfectly into our requirements profile.

Linking the two topics of health and education is particularly important to us, which is why we have been awarding scholarships to two young Kenyan women for their further training as ‘Ophthalmic Clinical Officers’ (OCO) since 2023. Unthinkable in Germany, training to become an OCO in African countries relieves the pressure on the small number of ophthalmologists: Over a period of 18 months, the prospective OCOs learn ophthalmological skills that are below those of an ophthalmologist, but enable them to perform common treatments and examinations (specialisation: cataract surgery or low vision).

Getting to know our scholarship holders Jennifer and Viola personally during our trip to Kenya, hearing their life stories and the hardships they go through for their training was a special moment for us.

We are already working on expanding our cooperation with the DBHW.