Light for the World works to eliminate blindness in developing countries

Aug. 28, 2013 - PRLog -- 28^th August 2013 – LIGHT FOR THE WORLD announced today they are introducing their NGO to the United States to raise awareness of their cause and generate much needed support to achieve their non-profit goals. LIGHT FOR THE WORLD was founded in the Netherlands in 1982 and is dedicated to restoring eyesight, preventing blindness, providing rehabilitation and access to inclusive education, and promoting the human rights of people with disabilities, particularly in developing countries. The organization currently supports 178 programs in 21 countries.

“We have restored eyesight to so many people but there are still many more out there who desperately need our help,” says Rupert (http://www.linkedin.com/e/cm90m1-hiplyrsv-2y/rso/210345830/4sUO/name/57173730_I555605828_55/eml-comm_invm-b-name-newinvite/?hs=false&tok=1ymySrQN3D9BQ1) Roniger, the organisation’s Director in USA. “We have been successful generating awareness and support in Europe and now wish to bring our success stories to North America to raise awareness of the need for eye care and other support for those disabled in third world countries.”

A goal to eliminate blindness

One of the organisation’s first projects was to introduce eye care units and rehabilitation programs in Ethiopia and Kenya. In 1999 World Health Organisation (WHO) launched “VISION 2020 – The Right To Sight” in cooperation with LIGHT FOR THE WORLD with a goal to eliminate preventable blindness by the year 2020. Since then, the organization has been involved in establishing eye care programmes in remote areas as well as eye care departments in hospitals in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso, among other developing countries, and on the furtherance advocating for the urgent need of eye care and rights of people with disabilities in developing countries at the European Union and the United Nations.

The organization works to:

●      support local partners in underprivileged regions of the world in their work with and for persons who are blind, have other disabilities, or are at risk of becoming disabled.

●      provide support irrespective of gender, ethnicity and religious affiliation with a particular emphasis on marginalized groups such as women, children, indigenous peoples and those living in poverty.

●      reach as many people as possible while targeting those in greatest need.

●      support programs that provide sustainable social integration, empowerment and opportunities for those who are blind or have a disability.

●      enable the global exchange of learning and experiences on effective and efficient development, and more.

“With the right support in place we can meet these goals and beyond,” says Roniger.

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About Light for the World

Light for the World is an internationally active and specialized organisation working on 178 sustainable aid projects for visually impaired and otherwise disabled persons in Africa, Asia, Latin America and South-East Europe. The focus of activities lies on the prevention and healing of blindness as well as on the rehabilitation and education of persons with disabilities and on the furtherance of their rights.

In 2012 Light for the World provided rehabilitative support for 59,616 children and made possible 46,848 cataract surgeries. Their help reached 1,143,939 people in the poverty-stricken areas of the world.

Since the foundation of the organisation in 1982 over 7.5 million people were treated and more than half a million (502,212) regained their eyesight through cataract surgery.

www.light-for-the-world.us