We believe that:
Every child deserves a safe and enjoyable childhood
Every young person should feel empowered
Every community we work with is engaged
Together with children, we fight to ensure that Child Rights are respected in full and implemented, leaving no one behind. We also engage to influence political agendas and strategies that affect children and young people.
Through our 890 projects in 68 countries, we work to protect children from extreme poverty, violence and exploitation.
We empower children and young people to actively shape the societies they live in and to inspire sustainable systemic change which puts their rights and needs first.
We involve all the relevant actors for positive results (parents, caregivers and the highest officials).
When mobilising our partners, expertise and resources, we create environments where children thrive.
Terre des Hommes is constantly increasing its capacity to protect children and defend their rights everywhere.
Vision & Mission
For every child, a childhood. Every young person empowered. Every community engaged.
It is our mission to make this vision a reality.
We fight to
- ensure that child rights are put into practice
- protect children from harm, even in the most difficult circumstances
- influence agendas and strategies that affect children and youth at all levels
We strive to
- give children access to the childhood they’re entitled to
- empower children and youth to actively shape societies, structures and mindsets
- achieve sustainable system change for children
We mobilise to
- involve all relevant actors, from local to global, in the solutions we seek
- engage partners, expertise and resources in creating environments in which children thrive
- build capacity for the protection of children and the implementation of their rights
Our commitments
Terre des Hommes is accountable to its stakeholders for delivering quality work, monitoring its impact and ensuring that funds are spent in an efficient way in line with human rights standards.
In 2016, we were awarded a Level 1 certification for safeguarding children by the global Keeping Children Safe network, the four year certification was renewed in 2020.
We are committed to ensuring our staff, operations and programmes do no harm to children and adults at risk, nor expose them to any form of violence.
Our Structure
We are a network of 9 member organisations with headquarters in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.
We work in 68 countries and with 895 partners.
Our Members
Terre des hommes Foundation in Lausanne
The Terre des Hommes International Federation is supported by an International Secretariat, with offices in Geneva and Brussels.
Leadership Team
Secretary General
Valérie Ceccherini
International Board
Chair: Franziska Lauper, Executive Director of TDH Switzerland
Vice Chair: Beat Wehrle, Director of TDH Germany
Treasurer: Paolo Ferrera, General Director of TDH Italy
Other members
Barbara Hintermann, General Director of TdH Lausanne Foundation
Julie Verhaar, Managing Director of TDH Netherlands