FREQUENTLY ASKED
Online donations can be made starting from ten euros, via our secure online system
You can also donate by transfer to the bank account number:
IBAN BE95 5230 4029 2158
BIC TRIO BEBB
You can also set up a standing order through your bank or online banking.
Light for the World ensures that the money goes where it is needed most.
86 per cent of the total amount donated goes to project implementation and awareness raising programmes in Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. 10 per cent goes fundraising. These are necessary costs made to collect funds. 4 per cent to operational costs. Those are kept to an absolute minimum.
The phrase “many a little makes a mickle” is also true here. Every contribution, however big or small, matters. Light for the World depends for 62 per cent on private donations. Without your support we are powerless but, together, we will eradicate avoidable blindness and provide a better future for people with a visual impairment.
Light for the World Belgium is active in three African countries: Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. We focus on prevention and treatment of blindness but also on education of children and adults with a visual impairment.
Donors rightly wonder what happens to their money.
How can they be sure that their donations are being used properly? Light for the World is committed to following strict rules and managing the funds in a sound, selfless, transparent and rigorous manner and does so in various ways.
To enhance transparency, we publish an annual report presenting an outline of all revenue and expenditures and of the allocation of our financial resources. The annual report also provides an overview of the project results. You can read the annual report here.
In realizing its goal and vision, Light for the World Belgium applies four values: respect, involvement, professionalism and impact.
The Code of Ethics is an elaboration of these values and standards which provides guidelines for making important decisions. Underlying the Code of Ethics is the principle of respecting all applicable laws and regulations. We are also committed to the fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
As a framework for responsible ethical behavior, the Code of Ethics applies on all employees, consultants, volunteers,.. and anyone working on behalf of Light for the World Belgium.
The Code of Ethics forms the basis of the Integrity Policy that aims to promote the integrity of the organization as a whole as well as that of the individual employee and person involved.
To achieve an effective integrity system, the organization has initially defined and delineated various roles. For example, there is a role for management, for the responsible person, for the counsellor and for the integrity complaints manager.
Initially, the organization focuses on preventive measures to avoid violations against the code of ethics, including through awareness or risk analysis. If violations do occur, they have consequences.
Each person involved is expected, if they suspect, know or witness violations, to also report them to the Integrity Complaints Manager: case_integrity@lightfortheworld.be
All reports are treated confidentially.
Light for the World Belgium does not deal with anonymous complaints, because it is difficult to gather all relevant information and to follow up on it if no dialogue is possible.
There are several ways to make the work of Light for the World Belgium known to your friends, in your community, your association, at work,…
As a member of an association, you can request a presentation. You can organise a sales campaign or sponsorship event with your company. Someone from Light for the World Belgium will be happy to drop by to tell a group of interested friends, members, colleagues… about our work in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Interested?
Send an email to or call Kris Van Kerkhoven – +32 2 412 08 01
Light for the World does not recruit volunteers for its projects abroad. On site, we work together with local staff. The aim is for our local staff to work independently; from time to time we therefore call on specialists and experts to provide additional training to our local staff. But we are always looking for volunteers in Belgium, to promote our projects, to set up events, to help us with office work or with other activities.
Interested?
Send an email to or call Kris Van Kerkhoven – +32 2 412 08 01
We regularly receive offers of material donations such as glasses, spectacle frames, medical devices or pharmaceutical products from incredibly generous supporters. Our many years of experience have shown that, unfortunately, we cannot accept these well-meaning donations. Of course, at first glance, this seems very contradictory to the needs on the ground, but our decision has several reasons:
GLASSES:
- First of all, we pay a lot of customs and transport costs, which sometimes cancel out the added value of the donation.
- Second, Light for the World is a small organization. We do not have the staff to keep track of lenses and frames. Without a clear inventory, it is difficult to send these goods and integrate them into the local stock management of our partner clinics.
- Finally, Light for the World is very proud that each supported clinic has an optical store. Local opticians produce high quality glasses in different price categories on site. This way the clinic generates its own income, which can be used to help the poorest people. In addition, it creates jobs in the regions where we work.
DEVICES:
- Despite all the precautions taken, used equipment is often damaged during the long and expensive journey. On the other hand, the new equipment coming directly from the manufacturer is packaged specifically for transport.
- Next, the expected lifetime of the devices used does not always justify the high cost of transportation.
- In addition, as the device ages, the chances of finding replacement parts in the event of a breakdown also decrease, and these parts often become more expensive as time passes.
- Finally, Light for the World also strives to standardize the medical equipment of its partner clinics as much as possible, so that staff can easily start working in another clinic and, if necessary, spare parts can be provided for any broken equipment.
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS:
- The import of pharmaceutical products into our partner countries is subject to very strict regulations. Not just any product can be imported. In particular, pharmaceutical products must be recognized and approved in the partner country. Therefore we work with fixed suppliers and cannot deviate from them.
We would like to thank all our donors for their trust and generosity. We are sorry that we cannot accept such a donation. Thanks for your understanding.
Our organization was founded in 1997, under the name CBM (Christian Blind Mission Belgium). In 2008, the organization officially became an independent Belgian NGO under the name of Light for the World. Our goal remained unchanged. We are committed to the welfare of people who are blind or visually impaired in Sub-Saharan Africa. What has changed is that the new NGO can manage its own projects and rely on government subsidies, which was impossible under the umbrella of CBM. Ever since 2009, Light of the World can decide autonomously which projects it is going to support and invest in.
Light for the World Belgium has been a member of Light for the World International since 2008. The international organization has eight member organizations supporting more than 180 projects in 15 countries. This international network allows us to develop our expertise. By doing so, we ensure a broader understanding and support from the authorities aiming at empowering the rights of people with disabilities.