Closure of Our Activities in Latin America

Tdh employee and woman hugging each other
20.03.2024

Terre des hommes Lausanne (Tdh) closed its field operations in Latin America on 31 December 2023. Our commitment to the wellbeing of children in Latin America remains strong, as we aim to ensure that the positive impact on their lives continues beyond our direct involvement.

To improve the sustainability of our work and promoted strategies, we undertook a capitalisation process in Colombia and Ecuador. We collected, analysed, and transferred to relevant actors the lessons learned and good practices from our recent projects. The capitalisation materials are available at this link (only in Spanish). 

After careful consideration and analysis of its overall activity and capability, Tdh has decided to end the operations in Latin America and focus on the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe. The decision comes to guarantee the quality and sustainability of our interventions and increase their impact on children’s lives. 

During over 50 years of work in Latin America, Tdh has made a lasting difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and their families in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru. Since 2021 until 2023, our field operations in Latin America focused on Colombia and Ecuador.

Throughout the years, we have been deeply committed to promoting the restorative justice approach in Latin America. These efforts have supported states in enhancing their justice systems to ensure that the rights of children and young people are upheld.

In Ecuador, we have been a key actor in supporting the local professionals in the justice system who are now those who promote, on a daily basis, the implementation of restorative juvenile justice. We have trained judges, prosecutors, public defenders, interdisciplinary technical teams, police officers, officials from multiple institutions and administrative and technical staff, as well as freelance professionals, students and teachers.  

One of our main achievements in recent years has been the establishment of an integral child protection ecosystem in Colombia. This system takes a holistic approach encompassing the school, family, community, and institutional environments. Significant emphasis has also been placed on improving health structures, access to drinking water and sanitation facilities, and promoting good hygiene practices to prevent the transmission of diseases.

Through these diverse and concrete initiatives, Tdh succeeded in contributing significantly to child welfare and in strengthening access to justice for children and youth in Latin America. 

This impact has been made possible thanks to the commitment and expertise of our former staff, as well as to the trust and support of the relevant authorities, our partners, and donors. 

We express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation! 

The capitalisation materials from Colombia and Ecuador will remain available on this link until the end of 2024. Key publications from Latin America can be downloaded from the digital library on tdh.org.

Our offices in Colombia and Ecuador closed. If needed, please contact Terre des hommes Lausanne Headquarters. 

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