Europe

Switzerland

A foundation anchored in Switzerland

Terre des hommes (Tdh) coordinates its activities in over 30 countries throughout the world from its head office in Lausanne. A large number of volunteers guarantees widespread support in the population of Switzerland.

Volunteer work

Terre des homes can rely on a wide base of volunteers in the whole of Switzerland. Over 2,200 volunteers are involved in winning respect for children’s rights and are thus agents working for a fairer world. These volunteers are linked in a network of over 50 volunteer groups or sections at a national level and guarantee widespread support in the population of Switzerland.
>> More on volunteer work

Global headquarters in Lausanne

From its head office in Lausanne with 100 employees, Tdh coordinates its activities in over 30 countries, in collaboration with national and international non-governmental organisations as well as with UN agencies. The head office is also responsible for the development of specialised skills in the fields of child protection, healthcare and emergency aid. The principle tasks at head office are financial and operational monitoring and running the foundation
>> More about Terre des hommes

International adoption

In the field of international adoption, Tdh helps couples who want to adopt as well as adopted adults searching for their origins, working closely together with other NGOs, institutional services and journalists. Tdh works in collaboration with countries such as Nepal and Haiti to evaluate practical teamwork in the case of abandoned children and the prevention of child trafficking under the guise of adoption.
>> More about adoption

Looking after children

Within the framework of its programme for specialised medical care, Terre des hommes looks after children brought for surgery to the partner hospitals in Lausanne and Geneva. Every year, two hundred children are cared for during convalescence at “La Maison”, the Tdh-Valais children’s home in Massongex.
>> More about specialised medical care

Centered at 8.227512 46.818188 6

Places of intervention : Lausanne, Bern, Lugano, Zürich

Projects : Central Head Office of the Foundation, volunteer work, international adoption, looking after children undergoing specialised medical treatment.

CEO : Peter Brey

Expatriate staff : 76

HQ staff : 95

Volunteers : 2,200 in 50 Groups

Budget : 61 millions CHF

Gallery

Latest News

19 Jan 2012 • Various Switzerland
A global responsibility: To remedy the shortage of health personnel in Switzerland

In a manifesto launched on January 16th, 2012, a wide coalition has been mobilised so that Switzerland assumes its responsibility towards the global shortage of health personnel. In this manifesto, it shows its commitment that Switzerland should increase training health profes... Read more
2 Dec 2011 • Trafficking and exploitation Switzerland, Various
Migration and Development: Civil society hands its recommendations to the States

This week, 160 States got together at the Global Forum of Migration and Development to discuss the issues and challenges of migration. Two days before the Forum, 186 delegates from civil society, including Terre des hommes, met to suggest solutions to the questions of migratio... Read more

Side Notes

Become a Tdh volunteer

A gift given to me
“Some months ago I took a trip to Nepal and was deeply moved to see the work of Terre des hommes and the humanity of the staff. It was a window on to people’s suffering.” After travelling with the Terre des hommes humanitarian organisation, the philosopher and writer Alexandre Jollien returned with the desire to offer his help: for the first time he took part in the traditional sale of oranges and gave lectures on his Nepal experiences. “To give a day or two is nothing much. It was more a gift to me.”

The spirit of Tdh
“As a volunteer, you works like a professional, but with more strength and conviction”, confirms Chantal Baillod, a volunteer from the regional group in Biel. For the past 22 years, she has been donating her time to Terre des hommes by organising a sponsored walk for children. Her commitment and her vision of Tdh go far beyond giving her time for children. “You have to feel the Tdh spirit and look on becoming involved without any reward as completely normal!”

Testimonial

Interview with Sabine Rakatomalala, resource person at the Terre des hommes headquarters. Her motto: “The children’s well being must always be our first priority!”

- Sabine, an expert in the field of child protection