Our History
Active against child exploitation for over sixty years
The origin
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was an idiosyncratic French writer and pilot of a mail plane in the Second World War, which he flew over Africa, among other places.
Before his world-famous book Le Petit Prince was published, he wrote the book ‘Terre des Hommes’. In this book, he called on “the people of the earth” to take responsibility and show solidarity. Because, he said: “There is no third world. There is one world and we are all responsible for it.”
This idea appealed to the Frenchman Edmond Kaiser so much that he founded a children’s aid organisation called Terre des Hommes. In 1966, enthusiastic volunteers in the Netherlands followed his example.
Initially, Terre des Hommes Netherlands provided emergency aid in developing countries mainly through Dutch doctors. Over the years, the focus shifted to structural aid through local partners.
Stopping child exploitation, the most serious violations of children’s rights, became the mission of Terre des Hommes Netherlands.
The United Nations International Convention on the Rights of the Child forms the basis for our work. We help vulnerable children. We never look at religion, skin color, gender or culture.
Because every child has the right to grow up in a safe environment without exploitation. Support us to stop child exploitation.
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.