Why participate in the Aid Initiative Project Vision:

Efficiency

We are simply inter-mediators, promoting contact between a well established NGO (CBM Switzerland and the local office in Ethiopia) and sponsors of cataract surgeries in Europe. We work free of charge, as volunteers, and raise money actively as well as passively (as a by-product of our professional activities). We use services provided by sponsors, students and other volunteers, and therefore avoid any additional expenditures.

We take advantage of the pre-existing facilities, health care staff, and know-how in Ethiopia, and avoid building any superfluous new structures of our own. We promote involvement of local, native staff of/collaborators CBM. We therefore enjoy the support of an organization and native experts, with years of experience in the unique local environment and in the field of ophthalmology.

Helping people to help them-selves

Through the surgeries, affected individuals will be able to read again, to continue with the profession that they had to abandon when their vision was lost, and they will be able continue being productive and supportive constituents of society. In other words, through the financing of the surgeries, we allow people to help themselves.

Sustainability

We avoid the concept of pure "outsider implementation and import." We promot epreexisting and functioning local health-care structures and personnel, with years of experience in the unique environment and in the field of ophthalmology. Our financial support will hence only increase the amount of cataract surgeries conducted, without disturbing the long-term function and survival of the structures.

We believe in promoting cataract surgery because it is sustainable. The surgery is a one-time measure, which shows an extremely high success-rate (over 90%), it restores vision within a day, and it does not have to be repeated later in life.