At just seven years old, Nasra is discovering the world with fresh eyes— quite literally.
When she first speaks, she is shy, unsure even of her own age. But ask her mother, she insists, because “mom knows.” Her innocence shines in these simple words. And behind her new glasses, made possible by Seva Canada donors, her big curious eyes sparkle with possibility.
Nasra is in Grade One at a primary school on the outskirts of Moshi, Tanzania. To her, school is not only about lessons but also about joy. Her favorite part, she confesses with a grin, is eating pilau rice with beans. “The school rice is very tasty,” she says, as though describing a small daily treasure.
At playtime, she bursts with life. Singing and dancing are her favorite activities, and without hesitation, she shares a playful tune: “Our teacher doesn’t like noise… he likes songs and cheering… poor donkey, its horns are its ears.”
Her laughter fills the room, the joy in her voice clearer now that she can see the faces around her.
“Before I got my new glasses I couldn’t see the blackboard at school because I couldn’t see far, especially in the sunlight. My mother brought me to the hospital for an eye exam. She is my hero”. Nasra’s says with a smile “I love her because she bought me shoes, clothes and this dress”. Nasra says proudly, twirling in her beautiful white dress. But perhaps the most important gift her mother helped her receive is the pair of glasses that now rest gently on her face.
When asked if she chose them herself, Nasra shakes her head. “Mom, I love my glasses.” In that moment, it is clear these are more than just glasses—they are her window into the world.
For Nasra, the gift of sight means she can now see the games she plays, the food she loves, the smile on her mother’s face, and the world of colours and shapes waiting for her.
It wasn’t just a pair of glasses. It was a doorway to joy, learning, and possibility. And with them, Nasra’s story is just beginning
