The mission of the Terre des Hommes organisations is to provide active support to children, without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination. To this end the Terre des Hommes organisations develop and implement projects designed to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged children in their own environment (including families and communities). The Convention on the Rights of the Child constitutes the conceptual framework guiding the activities of the Terre des Hommes organisations.
The Terre des Hommes organizations develop and implement field programmes supported by advocacy work. They campaign for the rights of children, mobilise political will and advocate appropriate public policies on child rights.
Terre des Hommes runs 870 projects in 68 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Middle East in close collaboration with the beneficiaries, who are the primary participants in their own development. Terre des Hommes acts directly, or works with 1120 local and national civil society organisations − assistance in their institutional development is a key element in this collaboration. During 2014, 3.325 members and supporters and more than 8.500 volunteers ensure that Terre des Hommes is truly rooted in civil society.