Making children with disabilities stronger

At least 40 million children with a disability live in the poorest areas of Africa, Asia and Latin-America. They are often left behind and frequently victims of neglect, abuse and violence. This is contrary to their rights: they should be able to participate equally and fully, at home and in their communities - and to live a life to the highest possible standard.

Our vision 

Our dream for the future is that children with disabilities are equal and participate as fully as possible in their homes and their communities. Their lives have the highest possible quality.

Our mission

To make that dream come true the Liliane Foundation contributes to a world that is open to everyone and in which children with disabilities in poor resource areas can develop and use all their talents. Together with local organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America, we make children stronger and their environment more accessible.

What is disability?

Disability is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Disability is thus not just a health problem. It is a complex phenomenon, reflecting the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives. Overcoming the difficulties faced by people with disabilities requires interventions to remove environmental and social barriers.

Disability and poverty

Disability is both a cause and an effect of poverty: poverty increases the risk of a disability and disability increases the risk of poverty. In the poorest countries of the world, particularly where there are no social benefits, being amongst the poorest have more severe implications for life and death than in richer countries. The basic cause of this poverty is exclusion: exclusion from social, economic and political life.

UN Convention and global goals

Almost all countries where our partners are active have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They have also agreed to work towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For our partners, the Convention and the SDGs are the main tools available to challenge their governments on their commitments.