They believe that every human being has the right to live in freedom and dignity. You can be who you are, whether you are male, female, gay, straight, or anything in between. Moreover, you should have the freedom to believe and say what you want, to challenge governments and stir up the established order. Your freedom only ends where another person’s freedom begins, and of course where the earth imposes her limits. The depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity and climate change already have major implications for the most vulnerable inhabitants of the planet. They, and future generations, are entitled to a truly sustainable world.
The problems Hivos wants to confront are complex and can change rapidly. Against a background of structural poverty, climate change and repression, they see economic crises, rising food prices and growing inequality. There are no simple or quick fixes. For real change to take place, they need to foster smart thinking and innovative solutions. Courage, creativity and knowledge are required to build a green and open world.
They cooperate with various partners across four continents. These can be artists, lawyers, or hackers, but also governments, energy companies and knowledge institutions. The projects they develop and support can be large-scale and long-term, but also small and experimental – a farmers cooperative, or a breeding ground for Internet entrepreneurs, for example. They can also be in the form of a campaign against corruption, a partnership with a coffee trader or a safe haven for a gay activist. What their partners have in common is that they seek to bring about social change through innovative ways. They recognise that same drive in many people across the world.
Core values of Hivos are:
What they do:
