By Heather Melton, UTO Staff Officer
At the time of writing this article, the 2026 UTO grants have only just been awarded, so none of the projects has started yet. With that said, I wanted to share the story of one of our new grant recipients because it is a part of the world that I got to learn about while supporting them through the application process. Please feel free to cut and paste the following article into your own diocesan or parish newsletters to share a bit more about one of the amazing 2026 UTO grant projects.
In June of 2026, UTO awarded a grant to the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. The dioese was formed in 1976 and is located within nine countries in the Middle East. The diocese has a fascinating history, which you can read more about here. One of the churches, Christ Church in Yemen, was converted into a clinic in 1996 as a partnership between the diocese and the government. Care was (and is) given to everyone, regardless of religion or other identities. In 2014, the clinic became solely an eye clinic since those services are not offered by the government clinic which opened nearby. With the outbreak of civil war in the area, the clinic was forced to close. Many feared that the clinic would be damaged or destroyed, but due to their commitment to the community, local leaders kept anyone from damaging the church. Today, people come from all over for services at the clinic, including refugees from the nearby camp. Unfortunately, the church and clinic are powered by a very old fuel generator. This means that some of the longer surgeries are not safe to perform and the clinic is limited in the services it can provide without consistent power. Refugees gather to pray in the church, which does not have access to the current generator, so it is hot and without lighting. (You can read more about the history of the clinic here.) Given these issues, the diocese asked UTO for solar panels and a solar-powered generator.
The UTO grant to the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf will save and transform lives. Not only will the clinic be able to stay open for longer hours to accommodate longer surgeries, but it will be able to expand its offerings to support the community. This grant will save lives by allowing the eye clinic to partner with local health authorities to start a vaccine clinic because now it will be able to keep a refrigerator always on to keep the vaccines safe. A classroom and the church will now have access to power, so the church will be open and comfortable for people to pray and gather. Students who volunteer at the clinic will now have a safe space to study and learn while there. And switching from diesel to solar means that the money previously used for fuel will now support those in need, and it is better for the environment. While this is not one of the largest grants, at just over $23,000, this grant will have a significant impact on the community, local refugees, and those who offer care at the Ras Morbat Eye Clinic.
If you have ever been grateful for your vision, or thought about what your glasses, cataract surgery, or similar eye care means to you, then you are aware of what having access to the eye clinic means to the community in Yemen. Thank you to everyone who donated in 2025 to support projects like this one. Please know that 100% of your donation to UTO is given away to support projects like this one. If you are feeling grateful for your vision and eye health, we hope you make a thank offering to the United Thank Offering so we can continue to support work like this.