Frères des Hommes France (FdH; ) is a secular non-profit aid organization. It was recognized for promoting public interest in 1998 and it consists of 250 members and 250 volunteers spread within 13 local teams.
Frères des Hommes supports sustainable development projects in Asia, Africa, and Latin America on the following issues: small-scale agriculture, social economy and democratic citizenship.
History
Upon first seeing Calcutta in 1965, Armand Marquisel was shocked by the sight of a "capital of poverty." After returning to France, he decided to create the NGO Frères des Hommes. He recruited volunteers willing to go to India with him and create the first Frères des Hommes center in Calcutta, where malnourished children were fed. From its beginning, Frères des Hommes was structured with centers in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where volunteers worked. In the 1970s, they were already more than 100 all over the three continents. In 1980, the Charter of the NGO launched a new functioning that established a partnership with local organizations: the assistantship developed during the first years disappeared to a real cooperative work. This original method guided, from then on, all actions carried out by Frères des Hommes.
In 2011, Frères des Hommes celebrated its 45th anniversary.
Philosophy
Frères des Hommes bases its activities on a long term partnership with its representatives from underdeveloped countries (non governmental organizations, associations, movements…). This imminence implies sharing ideals and goals, supporting new or existing initiatives, as well as co-responsibility. The projects supported by the NGO are designed and set up by local communities, with the help of local organizations.
Partners and some actions around the world
Small-scale agriculture
Peasant Papaya Movement (MPP) in Haiti supports peasant families in order to develop the farming sector in the Central Plateau of Haiti. The project works to restore and develop the familial agriculture (2010–2013);Trust Rural Development (TRD) in India trains peasant families dedicated to agroecology. In collaboration with Frères des Hommes they boost the training of these families (2009–2011); [[Landless Workers' Movement|Movement of the Landless (MST)]] in Brazil fights to defend the social, economic and political rights of landless peasants. The action helped to reinforce this Movement (1995–2003);Adenya and Duhamic-Adri in Rwanda. Adenya is an organization dedicated to Nyabimata’s development, in the South-west of Rwanda. Duhamic-Adri is an organization for integrated rural development. These two partners work together with Frères des Hommes proposing cultural and agricultural alternatives (2013–2015); Farmers and Breeders Peasant Cooperation (Coraca Protal) in Bolivia, helps the reconstruction of peasant communities. Coraca-Protal has taken part in two projects supported by Frères des Hommes and made in collaboration with other Bolivian partners: The social economy aid to peasants (2013) and the sustainable tourism towards communities (2008–2010);Ekta Parishad in India works to achieve the autonomy of the poorest sectors of the population, especially due to land access difficulties. In collaboration with Frères des Hommes, they helped smallholder farmers, landless workers and tribes to fight for their rights to access natural resources(2006–2008); PDRN in Philippines helps victims of environmental disasters and trains citizens in the risk management field.