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2021: The year in review

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Yelllow Graphic saying:
Husband, wife and child smiling and being happy over the fact that Tesfanesh (the wife) got an eye surgery and can see again. Tesfanesh is looking at the camera, smiling with an eye patch on her left eye. She is holding is standing in front of her husband, holding her child.
Tesfanesh Tadese Äthiopien 2019 © Ulrich Eigner

Our mission & vision

Light for the World empowers people with disabilities and protect eye health – because an inclusive society is better for all!

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Our approach

An elderly woman who has just had an operation sits smiling in front of a red wall and looks directly into the camera. She is wearing beige linen clothes with dark green ornaments.
Ethiopia 2015 © Light for the World
Promoting eye health

The steady loss of eyesight to blindness is highest in low-income countries. There, the rate of untreated eye disease is 90%, with sub-Saharan Africa being particularly affected.

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In der ersten Reihe auf einer Holzschulbank sitzen sieben Jugendliche mit Brillen. Sie alle tragen ein blaues Hemd und blicken in die Kamera.
Brillenverteilung in Schulen© Gregor Kuntscher
Championing inclusive education

Education is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and forms the basis for a self-determined and independent future. Nevertheless, more than 32.5 million children in poorer regions are denied their right to education.

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A boy with a disability practices walking on two wooden Bars. The child wears a green pullover and pink trousers. Next to it there is another boy supporting.
Light for the World supports children with disabilities to live their full potential.
Supporting people with disabilities

Exclusion and discrimination of people with disabilities must finally be a thing of the past. Every person should be able to participate in our world on an equal footing. No one must be left behind.

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Together, we are changing lives. Check out what we did in 2020:

69000

operations were done.

14000

children with disabilities could attend school.

15000

people with disabilities were enabled to live a self-determined life.

An ophthalmologist standing in front of a crowd of people looking and smiling at the camera.

Recent News

White man in wheelchair shakes hand with young girl from Mozambique who uses crutches. They are in a brightly coloured yellow and blue school classroom.
Photo of Tom Shakespeare visiting Light for the World programme participants in Mozambique, 2017; including 11-year-old Marta Joao Lucas. (c) Carlos Litulo.

Welcoming new Chair: Tom Shakespeare

Yelllow Graphic saying:

2021: The year in review

people from the Mozambican disability rights movement including serveral wheelchair users and people with crutches and white canes during a street protest for International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Flavia and Alem in front of the vision corridor at Entebbe Hospital in Uganda
Flavia and Alem exploring the Vision Corridor at Entebbe Hospital, Uganda.

Three women honoured as Eye Health Heroes

François Carbonez [1984 – 2021]
François Carbonez [1984 – 2021]

Remembering François Carbonez [1984 – 2021]

Doctor talking to his patient and reaching for something the woman is handing to him

COVID-19 vaccines: access for all or safety for none

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Testimonials

Henry Wanyoike - Light for the World
Henry Wanyoike

I love to make this world a better place together with LIGHT FOR THE WORLD. People with disabilities have a great role to play in any community. They should not wait but stand up and go for their dreams and talents.

Henry Wanyoike Paralympic Gold Medallist and World Record Holder (Kenya)
Colin Allen Portrait
Colin Allen

It’s time the mainstream nurtured, sought out and embraced people with disabilities. Our voices must be heard in all spheres of society. That’s my goal, as an Ambassador for LIGHT FOR THE WORLD.

Colin Allen AM Former President, World Federation of the Deaf & Visiting Lecturer at Rochester Institute of Technology