Human Dignity Foundation (HDF)

Human Dignity Foundation (HDF) is a private, Swiss foundation established in 2004 and governed by a Board of Directors. The foundation has a limited lifespan and will end its grantmaking in 2021. Guided by its vision, Human Dignity Foundation supports relevant organisations to expand and improve their work with children and young people in Africa and Asia. What HDF does Human Dignity Foundation makes grants to not-for–profit organisations that have a shared approach to working with children and young people HDF recognises the importance of supporting children and young people and believes that every child and young person has a right to realise and execute their rights. HDF supports organisations working with the most vulnerable children and young people in two thematic areas: child protection and life choices in India, Malawi and South Africa. While the majority of HDF’s funding is directed at the two thematic areas, the organization maintains a Discretionary Fund to support initiatives that, while outside the core strategy, are of interest to HDF. HDF only funds the following in very exceptional circumstances: > an organisation’s core costs – in the presence of a strategic relationship, strong rationale and future viability > relief work – where the foundation is already supporting long-term development work or where severe humanitarian need is not being met by the usual channels > academic research – when it is closely linked to programme work, is filling a clear gap and is likely to influence practitioners and other funders Child Protection - the organization's child protection programme seeks to ensure that all children, especially those over 10 yrs of age, are protected from any form of violence. HDF supports projects that: > address underlying causes of child protection issues > support the development or improvement of integrated protection systems > support families and communities to be able to better care for their children  Life Choices - HDF’s Life Choices programme seeks to ensure that young people (12-24 years) have opportunities and can avail of them. HDF supports projects that: > improve the learning environment for young people > improve learning outcomes for young people > equip young people with life skills > provide access to market-related training > work on improvement of working conditions for young people > support access to sexual reproductive health services > address social norms that restrict young people from fulfilling their potential