News
- “Bolivia is not doing enough to protect girls against sexual violence"
- New projects against child exploitation in Ehiopia
- Government promises action against Dutch pedophiles in foreign countries
- Bangladeshi projects make headlines in Dutch newspapers
- Foundation stone for new vocational training institute in Bangladesh
- Project Partner Koinonia helps flood victims return to school
- Terre des Hommes hospital ship no longer needed
- Flood relief in Sri lanka
- Terre des Hommes draws the attention of the United Nations to the human rights of trafficked children
- The Hague Global Child Labour Conference
- For a reinforcement of children’s rights
Working children
13 year old Nandini, seen in the picture above, never went to school. She works as a weaver to supplement her family's income. Thanks to local project partner Society for Human Education (SHE) Nandini attends non formal education classes for out-of-school children. Non formal education provides working children the opportunity to study at a convenient place, pace and time. Nandini is studying for her 10th standard diploma.
About Us
Millions of children across the world are treated like merchandise. Like an object that somebody claims for himself or herself for sexual acts. A tool that is used to do heavy physical work. Or an investment that yields money as a prostitute, drugs dealer, or beggar.
Children's aid organisation Terre des Hommes Netherlands is devoted to put a stop to child exploitation in developing countries. Collaborating with experienced project partners, Terre des Hommes Netherlands offers guidance to victims and helps them regain their confidence and to build an independent future for themselves.
Terre des Hommes Netherlands supports over 250 projects in four continents that are devised, planned and executed by local project partners. As a result of this, the projects are well attuned to the problems of the local population. Apart from the direct aid to young victims of exploitation, we focus on improving the living conditions of underprivileged children. Because children that are less vulnerable, run a smaller risk of exploitation. We give them a fair chance to a future with projects in the field of education, health and socio-economic development (including microcredit).
Terre des Hommes Netherlands in South Asia
Terre des Hommes Netherlands started its work in South Asia in 1971 by providing emergency relief to Bangladeshi refugees, lingering in camps in West Bengal, during the Liberation War. After Independence, Terre des Hommse Netherlands commenced its operation in Bangladesh. In 1974 the first local organisations in India were supported and in 1975 the first local organisations in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In 1988 an MOU was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and Terre des Hommes Netherlands wherein permission was granted to Terre des Hommes Netherlands to establish a regional office for South Asia in Sri Lanka. In 1990 Terre des Hommes Netherlands withdrew from Pakistan and North India.
"Children are the future"
This uncontested and much-quoted saying is the guiding principle for Terre des Hommes Netherlands. The importance of children and the realisation of their rights are captured in the vision and mission statement of the organisation:
Vision: "All children live a life worthy of a human being."
Mission: "To improve the quality of life of deprived children by ensuring their rights."
Terre des Hommes Netherlands mission is to contribute to a sustainable improvement in the living conditions of underprivileged children in their own environment, irrespective of sex, race, religion and political conviction. To accomplish this mission, Terre des Hommes Netherlands works in seven fields called programmes: education, health, socio-economic development, child exploitation, HIV/AIDS, children with disabilities and humanitarian assistance. Terre des Hommes Netherlands supports civil society organisations in developing countries working in each of these fields to enlarge the capacity of their partner organisations on three levels: human resources development, organisational strengthening, and institutional development.
Terre des Hommes Netherlands tries to achieve its mission given its limitation and particular circumstances, but not in isolation. Together with other governmental and non-governmental organisations it strives to accomplish that children will enjoy their rights as manifested in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and uses the Millennium Development Goals as a guide for the realisation of this ambition.