What was achieved in 2009
Our work in support of blind and partially sighted people and of persons with other disabilities was further expanded and developed in 2009:
Allocation of funds
The sum of all the LIGHT FOR THE WORLD Confederation expenditures in 2009 amounts to EUR 12,214,100. Over 70 % of the expenditures were used for project work and enabled us to conduct 139 projects. Our support reached over 600,000 people in 20 countries who are blind, have eye diseases or other disabilities.
The focus of our work lies in Africa: With over 64.8 % of direct project support we currently fund 92 projects. Our six priority countries are Ethiopia (24 projects), Burkina Faso (16 projects), Mozambique (14 projects), DR Congo (6 projects), Southern Sudan (10 projects) and Rwanda (3 projects). 27.11 % of direct project support is directed to Asia and the Pacific (33 projects), and 2.81 % to Latin America (10 projects).
55 of the projects we support are focused on the prevention of blindness and eye care, while 58 projects are concerned with rehabilitation and integration of persons with disabilities in developing countries. In 2009, about 7 % of project expenditures was used for the coordination of our projects. 3 % was used for advocacy work to establish the needs and rights of persons with disabilities and persons at risk of becoming disabled as a principle of European and international development cooperation.
18.83 % was allocated to inform our donors and those interested about our programme work, as well as on activities in the filed of devlopment education (e.g. in schools). 3.06 % was spent for public relations work, e.g. press releases, events and reports about the project work. Sponsorship and the voluntary commitment of many people made exhibitions, charity events and information evenings for people interested in the work of LIGHT FOR THE WORLD possible.
2.28 % was used for donor relations managment (e.g. donation processing, database 0.65 % of total expenditure was allocated as reserves.
Sources of our funding
The overall income of the confederation LIGHT FOR THE WORLD in 2009 amounts to EUR 12,214,100. Thanks to increasing support for the work of LIGHT FOR THE WORLD in Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic, it was possible to expand our work. The foundation of work is built on the commitment of many dedicated individuals, families, companies and institutions, who account for 83,70 % of total revenues. Income from donations account for EUR 10.2 million in 2009, EUR 279,552 thereof were donations in-kind. Bequests reached a total of EUR 272,578 in 2009.
We received in total EUR 1,043,349 million from public institutions in 2009.
The European Union funded programmes for persons with disabilities in Tanzania and for Prevention of Bliness in Eastern and Souther Africa a total amount of EUR 290,568.
LIGHT FOR THE WORLD has received EUR 612,903 from the Austrian Development Cooperation (OEZA). These funds were used in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Czech Development Agency supported LIGHT FOR THE WORLD in the Czech Republic with EUR 65,425.
Reliability of all three member organisations audited
Since their foundation, all three member organisations of the confederation LIGHT FOR THE WORLD had their accounts audited by external auditors. The accounts 2009 were audited in Austria by Hübner & Hübner Wirtschaftsprüfung Gesellschaft m.b.H., in Belgium by burg.bvba Clybouw bedrijfsrevisoren and in the Czech Republic by Audit Novotný. In Austria, LIGHT FOR THE WOLRD has been granted the Austrian Seal of Quality for Donations (Spendengütesiegel) for 2009, based on the external audit of the internal control system. LIGHT FOR THE WORLD in Belgium and the Czech Republic follow similar quality standards.