TERRE DES HOMMES

Thursday, 13 September, 2001, 18:34 GMT 19:34 UK
Ethiopian orphans to sue charity


The 1984 drought left many children orphaned

By Nita Bhalla in Addis Ababa
A group of orphaned Ethiopian boys is demanding a formal apology and compensation from a Swiss children's agency under whose care they have been living.

The 30 boys claim they have endured almost 15 years of physical, sexual and verbal abuse while under the care of Terre Des Hommes, which runs a home for Ethiopian children orphaned by the 1984 drought.

The boys, who call themselves "TDH Victims", say they now plan to hire a lawyer and take the organisation to court.

The boys, aged between 13 and 22, say they have spent almost all their lives in the orphanage.

Psychological problems

A British national who ran the Jari Children's Village from 1994 to 1997 is currently facing charges of paedophilia.

But the boys claim there were also other alleged paedophiles, which the organisation failed to report to the Ethiopian police.

The boys accuse the organisation of offering little rehabilitation, support or compensation to the children under their care and say they are now suffering from deep psychological problems.

Living in a society where boys are blamed for their own abuse, TDH victims say they have been accused of homosexuality and are now ostracised by the community.

Standing up

22-year-old Berihun Kebede says that although the boys are poor and have little chance of standing up to such a large organisation, they will do whatever it takes for the truth to prevail.

Colin Tucker, who represents Terre Des Hommes in Switzerland has denied the charges of neglect levelled against the organisation.

Mr Tucker however admitted that abuse had taken place at the orphanage, but claimed that proper rehabilitation and support was available to the abused children.

He said that the boys have been manipulated by detractors of the organisation to demand compensation.
See also:


20 Aug 01 | UK
Briton remanded over orphan abuse
23 Jul 99 | UK Politics
Paedophiles 'targeting aid agencies'
22 Jul 99 | UK
Paedophiles 'move abroad' due to UK crackdown
26 Jun 00 | UK
Sex offender loophole targeted
Internet links:
Ethiopian Government Information Service
Terre des Hommes
The partners of Terre des hommes
To achieve its mission of child relief in more than 30 countries, Terre des hommes (Tdh) works together with many and precious partners. Find below links towards our delegations, our partners on the field, the Terre des hommes international Federation and its members, as well as specialized networks.

For international companies, foundations, associations and organizations, Terre des hommes has developed several possibilities for partnership. Which type is chosen depends on particular links to sustainable development, social responsibility or good governance. Support from companies can either be as a contribution of expertise, support in terms of voluntary work, or of course, funding. In the domains of sponsoring and fund-raising, Terre des hommes respects a fixed code of ethics. Further information on company partnership.


Contact
A file on the various forms of partnership we offer can be requested from Zaira Govoni, 058 611 06 70, zaira.govoni@tdh.ch

Accor took part for the first time in Terre des hommes' widespread orange sales action.


Accor, a leader in the European hotel business, took part in 2008 for the first time in the Terre des hommes – child relief – widespread orange sales action. Throughout its chain of hotels in Switzerland, over 3,000 oranges will be offered to staff and guests. This is an important platform for Tdh’s visibility, as well as support for the health care project, in Switzerland as elsewhere, plus fresh vitamins for Accor’s guests.

Further information
http://www.tdh.ch/website/tdhch.nsf/pages/current_partnershipsE

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Categorisations
Partnership types
Project funding
Regions / countries / territories
Europe: Switzerland

Global issues
Children, youth and family welfare; HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, health and medical
Business sectors
Leisure, hospitality, tourism and sports

The Bank of the Canton of Vaud and Terre des hommes combine to help children in Switzerland as elsewhere.
The Bank of the Canton of Vaud (BVC) and Terre des hommes combine to help children in Switzerland as elsewhere. In the context of Citizens Day, staff of the BCV in nearly 10 branch offices located in sales malls, mobilized themselves to offer symbolic bags of rice for sale. The takings went to projects for nutrition in Haiti and to the program for Specialized Health Treatment in Switzerland.

Capital International has been supporting Terre des hommes for five years
The Geneva-based Swiss branch of the Californian Bank Capital International has been supporting Terre des Hommes for five years, firstly with the generous financial engagement of their Headquarters for our nutrition programme in Nepal, but also with psycho-social reintegration after the tsunami catastrophe in Sri Lanka. As well as this, they have a programme called “Matching Gift”, where staff are encouraged to donate a sum from their bonuses which is then doubled – or even tripled – by the Management!

Further information
http://www.tdh.ch/website/tdhch.nsf/pages/current_partnershipsE
CitiBank in Zurich participate in Terre des Hommes Foundation activities for children
In 2007 CitiBank staff held a sponsored swimming event and a year later they sold portions of risotto in favor of the Terre des hommes’ projects for nutrition. On March 3 this year they took part in “Kilos 4 Kids” – lasting until June 6. With the slogan “We are reducing, they are gaining”, members of staff have been losing weight and for every kilo lost, the sponsors pay a contribution to the projects for nutrition of Terre des Hommes. Before Mothers’ Day this year, on May 8, staff members also sold heart-shaped gingerbread biscuits to benefit mothers and their children all over the world.

Further information
http://www.tdh.ch/website/tdhch.nsf/pages/current_partnershipsE
Galexis offers presentation stands for Terre des Hommes in nearly 1,400 sales outlets.
The Galexis company, with over 65,000 articles on the health market, is one of the main wholesalers for chemists and pharmacies throughout Switzerland. Thanks to its distribution network, in 2007 Terre des hommes was able to have a presentation stand with leaflets for “Sympathizers” in nearly 1,400 sales outlets for medical and health products.

Further information
http://www.tdh.ch/website/tdhch.nsf/pages/current_partnershipsE
Cadbury supports the International Day of Children's Rights
American multinational Cadbury has supported the International Day of Children’s Rights in Switzerland for the past six years by providing a grant and the gift of chewing gum. Held on 20th November, and organised by Terre des hommes, this is event mobilises Swiss children to do odd jobs for passers-by.

Further information
http://www.tdh.ch/website/tdhch.nsf/pages/current_partnershipsE
Terre des Hommes Foundation (Tdh)
(Unverified non-profit organisation)

Terre des Hommes Foundation (Tdh), a private Swiss organisation for international child relief, focuses upon certain priority areas including child trafficking and exploitation, mother-child health and nutrition, child protection in disaster areas, specialised health care, and juvenile justice.

Website
http://www.tdh.ch/
Year established
1960

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