Founder of the Children's Charity Organisation for the Third World Dr. H.-G. Graichen at the opening of the health centre in Sébénikoro/Mali in 1988.
Herewith we would like to provide you with basic information on our charity organization:
Since our children’s fund was setup, we have monitored the planning and implementation of every project, applying strict quality standards. In more than three decades of practical humanitarian aid, these standards have become the basis and constant regulatory norm for our development work:
• Transparent organisation
Routine work processes and transparent personnel structures inform us about the project status at all times. The competence and reliability of our local partners – doctors and nurses, pastors and teachers, engineers and technicians – have proven their worth over many years. Their inspection reports form the basis of all strategic and operative decisions.
• Sustainability impact
Upholding the principle of responsible self-help, we transfer the projects that we have initiated to the local population or local umbrella organisations – without losing sight of their long-term development. Expert evaluation at irregular intervals ensures that schools, orphanages and health centres maintain their caring role.
• Socio-cultural perceptiveness
No project is drafted on paper. Extensive talks with the village communities, doctors, teachers and mayors are the first step. The needs and know-how of these contacts have a decisive influence on our project design. The fact that our staff in Germany also has profound intercultural skills has facilitated constructive development work over many years.
All our projects in Africa, Asia and South America are linked by a common goal: to improve people’s living conditions so that physical and intellectual talent can develop freely and bear fruit. Only where a human being can freely choose his or her role in the world and, if necessary, change this role, will dignity and self-respect find proper expression. For that reason we support resources – within education, healthcare and human care – from which every individual and different communities will benefit for the rest of their lives.
This process requires patience, trust and the openness to self-criticism, when setbacks occur.
As we maintain these standards, and will continue to do so in the future, we are proud to look back over years of successful work – and confidently welcome new tasks.
Finances
Since 1992, the DZI (Deutsches Zentralinstitut für Soziale Fragen, www.dzi.de) has certified our especially prudent and appropriate use of donated funds . This, however, is not enough to fulfil our aim of being accountable to the many ambitious donors – especially considering that in the past even well-known aid organisations have been discredited due to non-transparent practices. Such incidents also have dire consequences if they impair the flow of donations to organisations which have worked soundly for decades.