heks

In a region where life is marked by fierce conflicts, the hope of HEKS is to help alleviate the negative effects of such conflicts and to promote peace based on justice and upholding human rights. Our partner organisations tackle the conflicts at different levels. They look, for example, into the power struggles between the sexes and generations or into racial discrimination. By addressing the most sensitive issues, they advocate genuine social change.

The specific aims of the programme are:

• Study: The beneficiaries improve their living conditions by means of education and vocational integration.
• Action: The most disadvantaged are better integrated into civilian society. Young people and women in particular are strengthened, enabling them to exercise their rights.
• Influence: Awareness is raised among politicians, local and western society about the extent of the conflicts. Possible solutions are put forward.
• Coordination: Synergies on the ground are exploited and strengthened.
• Humanitarian aid is provided in crisis situations.

Aims, points of focus, initiatives

1. Education and training: Kindergartens in refugee camps (personal and social development of children), basic education for refugees (theoretical and practical knowledge), work placements and vocational integration
2. Development of skills: Workshops to support disadvantaged communities and support for their initiatives, awareness-raising for private initiatives, leadership, human rights and gender issues, training of trainers
3. Information and awareness-raising: Lobbying campaigns, assertion of human rights and of international humanitarian law (laws on health, work and return)
4. Exploitation of synergies: Support for initiatives that promote exchange, cooperation, debate and negotiations between our partner organisations, institutional support
5. Humanitarian aid: Safeguard basic medical supplies in the occupied territories and humanitarian aid in crisis situations, psychosocial care and post-crisis rehabilitation