17-year-old Nepali teenager Kunsang cannot remember a time when she had clear vision. Seeing has always been a struggle for her, but eye care was always out of her reach. Her family simply couldn’t find care they could afford. They struggled to get by in their mountain village, and Kunsang accepted that she would never see as well as other children. With resources so scarce, she was forced to drop out of school many years ago.
However, her parents were determined that Kunsang get an education despite their difficult circumstances and her age. Just over a year ago, they sent her to live in a Buddhist monastery in the Himalaya where she is working in the kitchen, making friends and going to class. At the monastery, Kunsang’s life has changed in more ways than she could’ve imagined.
Shortly after arriving, Kunsang attended a school screening funded by Seva donors where she received her first pair of prescription glasses. This simple pair of glasses enabled her to really take advantage of all the opportunities her new life provided – education, employment, socializing with friends and just being a teenager.
Today Kunsang is thriving. As one of the older students, she mentors her peers and helps them with their chores. They call her “Didi,” or elder sister as a term of endearment and respect. 
According to Kunsang, the best part of her new life is that she can now play basketball with her friends, her favourite sport, without the risk of tripping or falling. At an altitude of 12,000 feet, she is a sight to behold as she joyfully whisks around the court, relishing every moment of her newfound freedom.
