Our understanding of meaningful development cooperation
The global challenges are great. terre of hommes schweiz faces this responsibility and therefore supports both local initiatives in the global South, as well as development policy concerns in Switzerland. In a globalized world, the central causes of poverty and violence are closely linked to our actions here. terre of hommes schweiz stands for sustainable development based on partnership and responsibility.
Development cooperation covers many different approaches. For terre des hommes switzerland, human rights approaches and participatory cooperation with local civil society are central. The key point is partnership-based cooperation with local organisations in the programme countries. In contrast to other organisations, terre des hommes schweiz does not export aid supplies or ready-made solutions, but promotes local structures and initiatives on the ground with the aim of a long-term and sustainable partnership.
Develop your own solutions
The partner organisations supported are not mere recipients of aid, but competent actors who develop their own solutions in the fight for better living conditions and stand up for their rights. They provide disadvantaged young people with the tools they need to shape development through their own efforts. Helping people to help themselves is terre des hommes schweiz's contribution to sustainable social change.
Broad impact through networking
But supporting projects is not a panacea. Given the broad social and economic challenges in the programme countries, actual project support has a limited scope. For this reason, the coordination offices in the countries support networking and exchange between the partner organisations. The aim is to promote them as active players in society. Strong grassroots organisations exert political influence in their countries. Networked with others, they exercise a "watchdog" role as critical counterparts of politics and advocate for the rights and concerns of disadvantaged groups. In this way they achieve a broad impact.
What does that have to do with us here in Switzerland?
Poverty and violence do not fall from the sky. They have their causes in global exploitation and power relations. The economic and social situation of the countries of the global South is significantly shaped by the international environment. Lifestyle, consumer behavior and political decisions in the North have a direct impact on the countries of the Global South. Together with other NGOs, terre des hommes switzerland is committed to ensuring that decisions made here in Switzerland do not further hinder the development of poorer countries. This commitment is intended to ensure that the goals of development policy and other interests of Swiss foreign and economic policy are better aligned.
Important public relations work in Switzerland
With campaigns, also In cooperation with other Swiss organizations and with the development policy network Alliance Sud, terre des hommes schweiz exposes grievances. By revealing global contexts, it becomes clear how citizens, political and economic decision-makers can concretely contribute to a fairer world. terre des hommes schweiz uses its own public relations work to make the causes of poverty and inequality in the world visible. It informs about forgotten conflicts, suppressed interests and hidden dependencies.
