About us
The origin
Active against child exploitation for over sixty years
Terre des Hommes means ‘people of the earth’. It comes from the book of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The French writer and pilot saw a lot of the world and came to the conclusion: “There is no third world. There is one world and we are all responsible for it.”
With that thought in mind, French journalist and pharmacist Edmond Kaiser founded Terre des Hommes in Lausanne.
United in one federation
Terre des Hommes International Federation
Terre des Hommes Netherlands is a member of a network of eight national organisations working closely together. This Terre des Hommes International Federation consists of Terre des Hommes organisations in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.
Terre des Hommes Foundation
In 1966, the various Terre des Hommes foundations from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland came together. They decided to join forces in the Terre des Hommes Foundation.
We raise funds and develop programs in each country. We strengthen each other and work together where possible.
How we work
Our 5 Core Principles
The principles apply equally within our organisation as to the work that we do. Every plan we make and action we take should uphold our core principles. The five core principles are equally important and interdependent.
1. Children at the Centre
Children have the right to be heard and are important change agents in the fight against exploitation.
2. Safety & Wellbeing
We take a trauma-informed approach to our work, recognising that many of those we work with, may at some point have experienced trauma that continues to impact their lives.
3. Intersectionality & Power Awareness
We recognise that in a world of structural injustice and inequality, we need to proactively maintain awareness of power relations and address organisational processes and structures that contribute to power imbalances.
4. Strategic Partnerships
To achieve lasting change it is essential that we engage in meaningful partnerships with other organisations, companies and institutions that can both support and complement us.
5. Sustainability
We strive to be an organisation that promotes and achieves sustainability – socially, environmentally and financially.
Supervision
The Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board supervises the management and the general course of affairs within the organization. The Board determines the main points of Terre des Hommes policy, supervises its implementation, acts as a sounding board and provides advice.