- ATD Fourth World

Members of ATD Fourth World—looking at the world from where they take action, from places where they live in extreme poverty or make commitments alongside those who do—are deeply concerned.

People mired in extreme poverty are the first victims of today’s global crises, whether of energy, food and water, climate change, the economy, or social conflict. Some people progress at the expense of others who are left behind. Some enjoy rights at the expense of others whose most fundamental rights are ignored. Projects, research and policies that are intended for all only rarely reach those with no voice in the processes, those who are the weakest and most vulnerable. They are not involved nor even consulted in the planning and implementation of alternative approaches, while they are the first to have to resist the brunt of the crises.

In searching for ways to make our world more humane, our communities can no longer do without the experience and thinking of people living in the worst situations of poverty. We face not the problems of Africa or Europe, not of Asia or the Americas, not the problems of the north or south, not of the west or the east. They are our common problems. We have no choice but to tackle them together.

Striving Together to End Poverty requires a genuine contract based on the commitment and the participation of each person, of young people, of children, and particularly of those living in situations of extreme exclusion and misery.

Strengthened by the richness of these commitments, we want to innovate, to mobilize, to create pilot projects, and to initiate partnerships based on five commitments for 2008-2012.

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