Help for a smile

Für Kinder in Afrika

Transparency

 

Help for a Smile e.V. adheres to the voluntary commitment of the Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft (Transparent Civil Society Initiative). In accordance with the initiative’s guidelines, Help for a Smile e.V. publishes the following information:


 

1. Name, Registered Office, Address, and Year of Foundation

  • Name: Help for a Smile e.V.

  • Legal Form: Non-profit registered association (Gemeinnütziger eingetragener Verein)

  • Address: Ochsenwerder Elbdeich 182, 21037 Hamburg, Germany

  • Registered in the Register of Associations of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Hamburg District Court.

  • Registration Number: VR21983

  • The articles of association were established on November 3, 2013.

  • Website: www.helpforasmile.de

 

2. Articles of Association, Mission Statement, and Organizational Goals

The association’s articles of association and fee schedule can be found at: https://www.helpforasmile.de/en/articles-of-association-and-fee-schedule/ .

The purpose of the association is the promotion of youth welfare and development cooperation, specifically the support of children and young people from Uganda, Africa. Our mission statement can be found at: https://www.helpforasmile.de/en/our-mission-statement/

 

3. Tax-Exempt Status

Help for a Smile e.V. (Tax ID: 17/430/15629) is exempt from corporate income tax according to the latest notice of exemption from the Hamburg-Nord-17 Tax Office dated August 30, 2024. This is because it serves exclusively and directly charitable and non-profit purposes as defined by the German Tax Code (§§ 51 AO).

 

4. Names and Functions of Key Decision-Makers

  • Ms. Bettina Köhn, Chair

  • Ms. Ines Vollert, Deputy Chair

  • Ms. Anette Biesek, Secretary

  • Mr. Thomas Battau, Treasurer

  • Note: Ralf Vollert was elected as Treasurer at the General Meeting on November 5, 2023.

 

5. Annual Report

The funds provided to Help for a Smile e.V. for the fulfillment of its statutory purposes are detailed in the association’s annual activity report. Membership figures and financial data for 2024 can be found on page 9 of this report.

 

6. Personnel Structure

All aforementioned individuals work for the association on a voluntary basis. Additionally, Brigitte Battau provides voluntary support in media design and graphics, and our member Paulina Sell provides voluntary support for social media.

 

7. Source of Funds

Help for a Smile e.V. is a non-profit, non-commercial organization. In 2024, the association generated a total income of €50,255. The 2024 income consisted of:

  • 0.41% Self-generated income: Sale of giveaways and the children’s book “Charly fliegt nach Afrika” (€205 total).

  • 27.48% Membership fees: From 129 members (€13,810).

  • 72.11% Donations: Special member donations, birthday donations, and funds via Facebook or betterplace (€36,240, of which €10,791 was for Bernie’s Education Center).

  • Children’s book sales: €150
  • Giveaway sales: €55

 

8. Use of Funds

In 2024, Help for a Smile e.V. used 96.20% of available funds for statutory project work. Administrative costs (bank and postal fees) accounted for 3.80%. A total of €36,656 was transferred to Irene in Uganda. These funds cover:

  • School fees and supplies (primary/secondary school) and vocational training.

  • Transportation to school and to visit families.

  • Clothing, food, and hygiene products.

  • Medical care for the children and Irene.

  • Holiday excursions and allowances for Dickson and Irene.

  • Community projects supporting young mothers and their children.

The largest share, €22,342, was spent on educational costs. The cash balance at year-end was €45,794.74, with at least €33,000 allocated for regular 2025 costs. The remainder is held as a reserve for future years and unexpected expenses (e.g., illness or vehicle repairs).

  • Advertising/Public Relations: Costs for the website and flyers are covered privately and voluntarily, ensuring that nearly 100% of donations go directly to project work.

 

9. Legal Affiliation with Third Parties

We currently maintain no legal affiliations with third-party organizations.

 

10. Donors Exceeding 10% of Annual Income

In 2024, there were no legal entities whose annual donations exceeded 10% of the total annual budget.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us directly at: info@helpforasmile.de

 

Thank you!