Asia
ATD Fourth World has been active in Asia for a number of years, initially through the Permanent Forum on Extreme Poverty in the World. Since 1980, full-time volunteers in Asia continue to deepen their understanding of the conditions that surround the lives of those in extreme poverty.
ATD Fourth World’s work in the region is formed around three principle objectives:
- To support families living in poverty to turn their lives around, by strengthening their self-awareness and self-confidence through cultural and artistic activities, and by finding new ways forward by building on family support.
- To increase public awareness of the positive contribution that the experience and knowledge of people living in poverty can make in the search for ways of creating a fairer society.
- To advocate for greater attention to the situation of families living in extreme poverty and give them opportunities to take part in events organized by the United Nations, UN agencies and other international organisations.
All Together In Dignity Asian Forum. May 2012
From ATD Fourth World Regional Team (Romy Hoffmann-Tran, Quyen Tran, Patricia and Claude Heyberger)
In this letter, two articles look at how projects aimed at helping disadvantaged people and families can sometimes run the risk of creating division among the neighborhood and communities. Although projects are developed with good intentions, they may be ill-adapted to people’s needs—and therefore may be ineffective in fighting poverty. The two authors describe the importance of understanding the concerns and motivations of the most disadvantaged individuals and families they aim to reach, whose voices are oftentimes silenced by powerlessness and despair(…)All Together in Dignity Asian Forum : October 2011
From ATD Fourth World Regional Team (Romy Hoffmann-Tran, Quyen Tran, Patricia and Claude Heyberger)
“Due to their lack of schooling, the poor are not comfortable when they are face to face with “educated” people because they think that they lack knowledge. They fear that they might be laughed at or scorned because of what they say. That is why it is important for people who are uneducated or those lacking in education to join talks and discussions that concern the community, society and organizations so that their knowledge increases and can be useful in their lives.” (…)All Together in Dignity Asian Forum : May 2011
From ATD Fourth World Regional Team (Patricia and Claude Heyberger, Rosemarie Hoffmann-Tran and Quyen Tran)
Last February, ATD Fourth World sent a delegation from various nationalities and backgrounds to participate in the World Social Forum held in Dakar (Senegal). In a press release following the Forum, ATD Fourth World voiced their main concern: “How to take the most vulnerable people’s voice into account, considering them as partners in local, national and world governance.” (…)Other files
