Non-Governmental Organization

Action Courage was founded in 1992 by citizens' initiatives, human rights groups, organizations and individuals from all social areas and political parties as an answer to the violent racism in the German cities of Moelln, Solingen, Hoyerswerda and Rostock. To maintain social peace in Germany, we are dependent on the cooperation of people of different origins, of all cultures, and religions. If we want to achieve mutual respect, we must actively fight for it.

What we want:
Action Courage demands and supports the social involvement and political participation of people of foreign origins.

With our work and projects we want to achieve:

• Encounters free of fear and prejudice
• Readiness to communicate
• Acceptance of foreign identities
• Concentration on common values as well as
• Disassociation from extremist actions and tendencies

Who we are:
We are a German group of active citizens and organizations of different cultures of all regions in the world.We are not onlookers. Discrimination of any kind is an attack on human dignity.

Therefore we defend ourselves with courageous actions against violent and open racism, as well as against latent and everyday racism in companies, local authorities, in schools and universities, in our leisure time and in our private life, in politics and the media.

Only if we are open us to the different worlds can we understand our own world and will we be able to live peacefully with each other.

What we do:

• We provide information and do educational and public relations work
• We lobby MPs and government officials
• We offer intercultural training for the police and the German army
• We document assaults and discriminations
• We work together with human rights and anti-racism groups

medico works ... with partners
The help which is performed by medico is more than the supply of auxiliary goods in emergency situations. We understand our work as a part of a comprehensive social action which has the realization, the aim and the right on health. Besides, it is not about short-term »interventionist's broad auxiliary missions «, but about a united and trusting cooperation with people who are independent partners, on no account, however, bare auxiliary receivers for us. Starting points are the political and social aims which we divide with our partner organizations in the south. Besides, the continual exchange of views, the openness in dealing with the partners and the continual reflection of existing dependence and our own interests belong to these aims too.

medico works ... in context
The ones, who do not understand the causes for the misery of people are fading out important political and cultural connections, can also not react appropriately to this misery. Wars and predicaments do not fall from the sky. They have reasons, and they need to be asked for those. medico sticks to a help oriented  context, even if the media public currently and especially  immediately grabbing help is celebrated which does not stay long with political questions. The aim of our endeavors is not only the relief of humanitarian crises, but their lasting overcoming.

medico works ... for change
Every help for people leaves tracks which stretch beyond the moment of the intervention. Therefore, the help which wants to overcome the status quo a society-political vision of another fairer world needs. It has to develop strategies which indicate the ways there. For humanitarian crises there are no humanitarian solutions. For us help is a part of a social action which argues for democracy, social justice and the respect of the human rights – and this together with the victims of need and dictatorship.

The union of the school pupil organizations of Switzerland and the principality Liechtenstein – briefly USO – is a charitable organization which exerts itself for the concerns of the schoolgirls and schoolboys. It was founded in 1990 and unites 80 school pupil organizations and school pupil councils from all over Switzerland and the principality Liechtenstein. It represents the concerns of the schoolgirls and schoolboys by educational discussions, however, also directly to its members by national or regional workshops, to projects and concrete services with regard to its activities in school pupil organizations.

Fairly Trade Hellas is an NGO not oriented to profit which was founded in June, 2004 with the aim to promote the Fairtrade movement and ethical consumption in Greece. In this direction going Fairly Trade Hellas opened on the 16th of March, 2006 as the first Fairtrade store not oriented to profit in Greece in cooperation with the Italian NGO CTM ALTROMERCATO (a study group in which Fairly Trade Hellas is a member of). Fairly Trade Hellas promotes with the help of five employees and many voluntary educational operations, sensitization campaigns of alternative and fair economy and supports responsible consuming.

Save the Children Sweden fights for children's rights. We influence public opinion and support children at risk in Sweden and in the world. We work in over 60 countries, together with local organizations, in order to influence societies to be more child-friendly, and we support projects for children's benefit. The projects may concern children in armed conflict and other emergencies, children forced into harmful labour or prostitution, children in the street or with disabilities. In collaboration with near 30 sister organizations within the International Save the Children Alliance we form a powerful movement for children and children's right all over the world.

Latinamerikagrupperna is a non-profit organization without connections to any particular political party or religious movement. The organization works in Latin America, and the activities involve mainly volunteer services. Each volunteer practices his/her profession on a two-year contract. When returned to Sweden, they get involved in information and solidarity activities.

Swedisch Pentecostal International Relief and Development Agency (PMU) is involved in over 200 current projects in 65 countries. The emphasis of our work is on education and health care. Humanitarian aid is also a substantial part of our mission. PMU InterLife provides support to Swedish personnel throughout the world by making contributions to volunteers and job trainees. Communication activities are performed to strengthen interest in development issues. Funding is obtained from Sida (Swedish International Development cooperation Agency), private donors, congregations, companies and second-hands stores.