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About Us

Our name " Terre des Hommes " stands for a "Earth of Humanity." Climate change, child labor, war, and displacement – we empower children and young people and protect them from violence and exploitation with our projects. We provide humanitarian aid and improve the living conditions of children worldwide. What is particularly important to us is that we work with local partner organizations and enforce their rights together with children.

As a children's rights organization, we are independent of governments, businesses, religious communities, and political parties. We support 416 projects for children and young people in 47 countries. Terre des Hommes has around 1,500 members in Germany and numerous volunteers working for children's rights in approximately 80 locations. 6,000 young people are active in our international youth network.

Our order

Every child counts! Together with children, we enforce their rights worldwide. Climate change, child labor, war and displacement - we make children and adolescents strong and encounter them with them locally and globally.
 

Our approach

  • Solidarious : With solidarity, commitment and financial support for people and institutions, we have been strengthening children and adolescents with the aim of an earth of humanity since 1967. We are determined by social movements worldwide.
  • In partnership : Together with partner organizations worldwide, we are working free from poverty, discrimination and violence on a future worth living in and after natural disasters humanitarian aid.
  • Participatory : Children and young people, project partners, members and employees worldwide decide together on the strategic direction of Terre des Hommes .
  • Sustainable : We support projects for protection and permanent improvement in children's living conditions.
  • Self -effective : We strengthen children and adolescents in their right to participation and support them in standing up for their rights themselves. It is particularly important to us to strengthen the voices of children and adolescents who are discriminated against and marginalized.
  • Critical : With public relations and campaigns, we sharpen the critical view of global injustices and influence politics, business and society. We are independent of political parties, companies and religious communities.
  • Networked : As a member -based child rights organization, we are part of a global civil society movement for a healthy environment, justice, peace and human rights.
The guiding principles as download (PDF)

Terre des Hommes Germany is a development-oriented children's aid organization committed to creating a future for children in a just and peaceful world, both for those living today and for future generations. The fundamental principles of human rights, tolerance, and equal rights for all people, regardless of origin, legal status, gender, religion, and sexual orientation, form the basis of its work. Terre des Hommes is independent of governments, businesses, religious communities, and political parties. Terre des Hommes is committed to a world in which the survival of all children is assured, no child is exploited, all children have educational and developmental opportunities, children's rights are realized, economic and social justice and peace prevail, and conflicts are resolved non-violently. Terre des Hommes Germany sees itself as a citizens' initiative and is seeking people in the South and the North who want to work with Terre des Hommes to realize this vision.

The statutes as download (PDF)

The Delegates' Conference is one of Terre des Hommes . Every five years, project partners, youth delegates, volunteer members, and staff come together to define the goals that guide our entire work for the following five years.

These so -called strategic goals describe in which areas and fields of work we bundle our forces to fulfill the order of our organization: to enforce their rights worldwide together with children.

Our strategic goals

Downloads

How does the Terre des Hommes organization work?

Terre des Hommes Germany e.V. is an international children's rights organization and sees itself as a citizens' initiative—independent of governments, businesses, religious communities, and political parties. Terre des Hommes ' legal form is that of a registered association.

The Terre des Hommes members meet annually for the General Assembly, the highest governing body. Every three years, the General Assembly elects the Presidential Board and every two years, it elects auditors.

Terre des Hommes takes place every five years . It decides on the strategic goals for the organization's international program work . The Delegates' Conference is composed of representatives from partner organizations and the international youth network, members, and full-time staff.

The Presidential Board is a voluntary body and functions as a supervisory board. It decides on the strategic direction and business policy of Terre des Hommes and oversees the work of the Executive Board. The Presidential Board of Terre des Hommes

The volunteer auditors are elected by the Terre des Hommes general assembly. They annually review the use of donations and financial management on behalf of the association, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and the association's bylaws, and ensuring that income and expenditures are justified and documented. They also review the work of the Presidential Board , the Executive Board, and the entire full-time organization.

The full-time board manages the association's business. It oversees the office in Germany and the international offices and is responsible for implementing the association's strategic direction and business policy. The board consists of three members with departmental responsibility. The spokesperson represents Terre des Hommes in public. Board of Terre des Hommes

Terre des Hommes is divided into three divisions. The Program Division coordinates international project work. It also includes the international regional offices in the program regions. The Communications Division is responsible for political work, media and public relations, fundraising, and supporting volunteer work. Commercial processing, controlling, human resources, and internal services are located in the Finance, Administration, and Human Resources division. The federal office is located in Osnabrück, and there is also an office in Berlin.

The development of Terre des Hommes

Child protection at Terre des Hommes

For Terre des Hommes the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is an integral part of its own work. Terre des Hommes is therefore committed to being vigilant against all forms of violence against children, including in its own work context.

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