Q: What are Tdh’s requirements in terms of recruitment

Full details can be found here: “ Terre des hommes recruitment procedure ”.

Question 1

Is Tdh acknowledged by a third party organisation for procedures in matters of child protection?

Accepted Answer

Tdh Lausanne (under the umbrella of the Terre des Hommes International Federation) is certified to the 1st Level by “Keeping Children Safe”, an independent organisation which analyses and controls the procedures of NGOs to guarantee the protection of the children with which they work. Tdh makes an effort to continually improve its Child Safeguarding Policy by ensuring it meets the highest international standards and maintains best practices for the sector.

Question 2

Is there a code of conduct?

Accepted Answer

All the staff must have accepted the Tdh Code of Conduct and signed it (annex 1 of the Child Safeguarding Policy). A briefing – individual or as a group – is also organized on arrival of the employee in order to inform them of our Child Safeguarding Policy. Occasional volunteers and visitors are also obliged to sign their Code of Conduct (annex 2 of the Child Safeguarding Policy) before any visit to the field.

Question 3

Is there a Code of Conduct I have to follow?

Accepted Answer

All potential employees are to read the Tdh Code of Conduct before signing a contract. A briefing about our Child Safeguarding Policy is also given to all new starters.

Volunteers and occasional visitors are also asked to sign the Code of Conduct prior to any visits in the field.

Question 4

Do I need to take any specific tests once I have sent my application?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all employees in a position of responsibility are asked to take technical tests.

Question 5

Is Tdh recognised by any third-party organisations for its child relief work?

Accepted Answer

Under the umbrella of the Terre des Hommes International Federation, Tdh has been certified by Keeping Children Safe, an organisation that examines and audits the procedures NGOs put in place to ensure the safeguarding of the children with whom they work. Tdh’s Child Safeguarding Policy is under constant review, and optimised to meet the highest international standards and follow best practices.

Question 6

What are Tdh’s requirements in terms of recruitment

Accepted Answer

Full details can be found here: “Terre des hommes recruitment procedure”.

Question 7

I have submitted my application but I cannot modify it

Accepted Answer

Once an application has been submitted, it is no longer available for update. If you wish to make changes to your application, you can submit a new one. Rest assured that the most recent application will be the one taken into consideration.

Question 8

I can’t upload my CV and cover letter, I get an error message.

Accepted Answer

Check that the documents you are trying to attach are in the right format and no larger than the maximum size of 10 MB. 

Question 9

Where will my donation go if an emergency aid project is not deployed?

Accepted Answer

Before deploying an emergency aid project, we always conduct an assessment mission, in which we send a team on site to assess the needs of the affected population and the ability of local authorities and organisations to respond to crisis. The situation on the ground may be more serious than initially thought. Very rarely does the opposite occur. For example, during the earthquake in Indonesia in September 2018, the field exploratory mission revealed a strong capacity to address needs by state actors and local NGOs. We then decided not to intervene further and to reallocate the money raised to other priority projects, as mentioned in the fundraising campaign.

Question 10

What criteria justify an emergency response?

Accepted Answer

At Terre des hommes, our emergency response teams are primarily involved in Level 3 crises, which are known as "serious humanitarian crises". These crises are of natural or human origin and are characterized by extensive violence, population displacement, widespread damage to society and the economy, and the need for significant humanitarian aid. To determine the level of crisis, Tdh refers to the OCHA and ACAPS classifications. Level 2 crises are taken into consideration only if Tdh teams are already present in the area, for example in the case of the 2018 Kerala floods in India.

Question 11

What are the stages of an emergency response?

Accepted Answer

In the humanitarian aid sector, scenarios can never be written in advance. Only the needs of the population and the reality on the ground can justify enacting a humanitarian response or not. That is why, before any emergency response, we always conduct an evaluation mission by quickly mobilizing a team on site. We are also looking for funds to cover the operational expenses of the mission, such as logistics of the response (transport, accommodation, visas etc.) and possible emergency activities. We coordinate with local partners when the situation permits and prioritize needs in the field. The evaluation mission decides whether or not to deploy an emergency aid project and then develops a detailed action plan.

Question 12

Is it possible to adopt a child in need through the intermediary of Terre des hommes?

Accepted Answer

Although we were one of the pioneering bodies in international adoption for over 50 years, we ceased to operate as an intermediary in 2013. In order to better protect children against abuse, the regulations governing adoption have become a lot stricter and the countries in question are for the most part better equipped than before when it comes to organising adoptions within their own borders. However, if you would still like to make a difference to the lives of children at risk, you will find a list of the options available on our “Get involved” page.

Question 13

Inquiries about adoptions

Accepted Answer

Terre des hommes concluded its adoption activities in 2016. We kindly ask you to contact your canton of origin (that is, your residence at the time of your adoption), which is now handling requests in relation to adoptions. Please find the list and contact details of competent cantonal services here.

Question 14

Why do I get your advertising even though my mailbox has a "No ads please" sign?

Accepted Answer

Appeals for charity are not considered to be advertising and the Swiss authorities as well as the postal services, who distribute our appeals in all mailboxes, support us.

Question 15

Why did I get your unaddressed mail even though I am already a Tdh donor?

Accepted Answer

Unaddressed appeals are sent to every household for our national campaigns or for emergency appeals. The Swiss Post offers us special rates for this type of distribution. It would be impossible to remove donors’ addresses without generating excessive additional costs.

Question 16

Why do you send out so many mailings?

Accepted Answer

We send out several mailings per year. We apologise if they cause any inconvenience, but our mission is becoming increasingly important. The terrible situations that so many children face in the world compel us to devote more and more resources to assisting them. Thanks to the Swiss population’s generosity, we were able to help over 3 million children and their families.

In addition, there are two other Terre des hommes in Switzerland (Basel and Geneva). You may also be receiving mailings from them.

Question 17

Can I order just one issue of the Tdh magazine?

Accepted Answer

We publish 4 issues of our magazine per year to keep our donors informed about our work. It is impossible to arrange only one delivery during the year as it overly complicates the address database management.

You can however download any issue of the magazine in PDF format from our digital library.

Question 18

Can I order an old issue of the magazine?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, we do not keep a stock of printed issues, but we do have a digital archive on this website. You can download any issue of the magazine in PDF format from our digital library.

Question 19

I am a donor but I do not wish to receive the Tdh magazine.

Accepted Answer

You can simply place the request with our donor care service (+41 58 611 06 11). We regret your decision however, as we believe it is important that donors remain informed about the use that is made of their donations in our projects. You can of course always download our magazines in PDF format on this website, from the digital library.

Question 20

How can I make a donation?

Accepted Answer

You can make a donation via e-banking with the IBAN CH41 0900 0000 1001 1504 8, online under www.tdh.org/donate, or telephone 058 611 06 11. There is also the possibility to create your own fundraising campaign under MyTdh.ch.

Question 21

How can I make a donation after a specific event (marriage, birth, etc.)?

Accepted Answer

You can arrange a fund collection during a specific event, for example at a wedding or memorial service. To do so, simply call our donation service on +41 58 611 0611 and provide them with the following details: name of the married couple or the deceased and the contact details of the person organising the collection. The latter will receive an update each fortnight informing them of the amount received.

Question 22

Can I make a donation for a country where you do not have any projects?

Accepted Answer

We place top priority on respecting donors’ wishes. In order to do effective, lasting work, Tdh focuses its efforts and resources in projects in around 40 countries. We therefore suggest that you support a project in one of these countries. If your donation is not for a specific project, it will go towards helping children who need it the most.

Question 23

I made a donation to Tdh Switzerland although I wanted it to go to the Tdh Foundation in Lausanne. I made a mistake - what should I do now?

Accepted Answer

You need to contact Tdh Switzerland by telephone, post or e-mail and explain the problem. We are on good terms with Tdh Switzerland and they regularly return donations sent to their account by mistake. They only ask that the request be made by the donor personally.

Terre des hommes Suisse
31, Franck-Thomas
CH-1223 Cologny/Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: 022 737 36 36
Fax: 022 736 15 10
E-mail: secretariat@terredeshommessuisse.ch

Terre des hommes Schweiz
Laufenstrasse 12
CH-4018 Basel
Switzerland
Tel: 061 338 91 38
Fax: 061 338 91 39
E-mail: info@terredeshommes.ch

Question 24

Will my donation really be used to help children in need?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the use of all donations and expenses is monitored. The ZEWO certificate guarantees that we are a nonprofit charity. 81% of the donations goes directly to our child relief projects, 19% is used for the functioning of our headquarters and for communication and fundraising campaigns.

Question 25

What is Terre des hommes Valais?

Accepted Answer

Terre des hommes Valais independently manages La Maison, a home that provides pre- and post-operative care for children. They were a key partner for our specialised healthcare programme that closed in 2022. La Maison hosts children with severe cardiac illnesses from African, Middle-Eastern and East-European countries who were transferred to Switzerland for treatment.

Question 26

Does Tdh run any aid projects in Switzerland?

Accepted Answer

We advocate for children and their rights. Our volunteer groups and staff organise activities to raise awareness of our work and raise funds.

Question 27

Who are your partners?

Accepted Answer

We have several regular partners. In Switzerland, we work with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Swiss Solidarity as well as cantons, towns and companies. We also work with local partners abroad, to ensure our projects are locally owned and well suited to each specific context.

We are also a member of the Terre des Hommes International Federation, a grouping of Tdh’s cousin organisations in Switzerland and in other countries. This movement amplifies their voice at the international and European levels as well as at the United Nations. The Federation organises awareness campaigns and signs common position statements in the best interests of the child.

Question 28

Why is it that when I search for www.terredeshommes.ch on the Internet, I do not get your website?

Accepted Answer

The address “terredeshommes.ch” belongs to Terre des hommes Switzerland (Geneva and Basel). Our own address is abbreviated: www.tdh.org

Question 29

Is Tdh politically active?

Accepted Answer

Terre des hommes is an independent foundation that is not affiliated to any religious or political organisation. We work to protect vulnerable children and their families, regardless of their race, creed or political affiliation. Where children's rights are abused or not observed, we are outspoken advocates for change. This involves a constructive debate with stakeholders of all kinds: e.g. civil-society groups, law-makers, political and religious leaders.

Question 30

What does Terre des hommes do?

Accepted Answer

Terre des hommes (Tdh) is the leading Swiss organisation for children’s aid. Since 1960, Tdh has helped build a better future for deprived children and their communities, making an impact with innovative and sustainable solutions. Active in around 30 countries, Tdh works with local and international partners to develop and implement field projects which improve the daily lives of millions of children and members of their communities every year, in the domains of health, protection and humanitarian aid. This engagement is financed by individual and institutional support, with administrative costs kept to a minimum.

Question 31

In which countries does Tdh work?

Accepted Answer

Tdh works in almost 35 countries throughout the world in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and in the Middle East.

Question 32

Who was Edmond Kaiser?

Accepted Answer

Edmond Kaiser (1914 – 2000) was a French-Swiss dual citizen who founded Terre des hommes in 1960. Shaken by the appalling situation of children in refugee camps during the Algerian conflict in 1960, he devoted the rest of his life to helping children in need.

Question 33

What is the difference between Tdh Switzerland based in Geneva and the Tdh Foundation with its headquarters in Lausanne?

Accepted Answer

Terre des hommes Switzerland and the Tdh Foundation are two different organisations. This is the result of a separation in 1972 due to differences of opinion between the people responsible for the organisation at that time. The two organisations are nevertheless complementary. They manage their projects independently but occasionally work together.

Question 34

Are there any regulations governing Terre des hommes volunteers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is a policy and a code of conduct that every Terre des hommes volunteer is bound to observe and follow here.

Question 35

What does a volunteer actually do?

Accepted Answer

As a volunteer, you are there to support and strengthen lots of good causes. As a volunteer, you can firstly raise awareness in Swiss people, and collect funds to bring about lasting change to children around the world. You can inform the public about the projects Terre des hommes is running. Volunteers also provide significant visibility for Terre des hommes’ presence in the media and on social networks, while strengthening our impact for children and their rights.  You will gain valuable experience in event organisation and, if you so wish, in media relations.

Question 36

Does volunteering with Terre des hommes mean being in contact with children and young people?

Accepted Answer

At this time, volunteers have no direct contact with the children and young people that Terre des hommes is helping and supporting. We are used to work with child protection experts in the field.

Question 37

Is it possible to volunteer in countries where Terre des hommes operates?

Accepted Answer

For ethical reasons and to stay true to our values, we made the choice to engage volunteers who are from the children's country of origin. Such volunteers speak the language and know the culture of children from the country concerned, and are familiar with the children's home communities, and these are very important factors.

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