Our Work
The origins of ATD Fourth World
Joseph Wresinski founded ATD
Fourth World in an emergency housing camp in Noisey-le-Grand France
in 1957. He had growing up in extreme poverty himself and the
deprivation and humiliation suffered by his family,
and their courage in the face of their difficulties, left an
indelible mark on him.
to have a society free from poverty where human rights for all people are respected.
to unite all sections of society around the most disadvantaged people in a concerted effort to eradicate poverty and social exclusion.
To empower people experiencing poverty to access and exercise their fundamental rights, to have their voice heard and so lead to fulfilling their potential.
Giving priority to those most affected by poverty, not those who are easiest to reach. Involving people who live in poverty in planning and carrying out projects. Developing and building on partnerships and links with other organisations and individuals. Giving people from all walks of life the opportunity to volunteer their time and energy to eradicating poverty.
To create greater awareness that in our society chronic poverty puts children at high risk of being removed from their family.
To persuade policy makers and practitioners to create a social care system with a greater emphasis on supporting families living in poverty and so prevent their break-up.
The Approach: Learning from the most excluded people and sharing this knowledge with the wider society.
Poverty and Social Exclusion
Poverty results from the serious absence of securities in people's lives. This can be to do with money, housing, education, training and work, heath care, or relationships with others. Poverty becomes extreme when people face insecurity in several areas of their lives at the same time, and for long periods. In this situation, people cannot regain their rights and reassume their responsibilities on their own. Extreme and long-term poverty results in people being socially excluded - they cannot benefit from modern society and they cannot contribute to it.
"If people in authority took the time to listen to the people who have been through it, things could change, not overnight, but they would change." Paddy F.
backgrounds and responsibilities around the concerns and efforts of those in poverty opens the door to creating a dialogue and a shared understanding of what makes a real difference in people's lives. With people in poverty and with statutory and non-governmental organisations supporting them, ATD Fourth World is seeking to create the conditions necessary for developing this dialogue in Ireland and internationally
Family support in the fight against poverty
In situations of extreme poverty, people often have to fight for the survival of their families as well as their communities. Supporting this fight for family and community life has been a constant element in ATD Fourth World's work in Europe. All families have strengths, experience and "know-how" that they want to use for the wellbeing of their own families, for their community and at a wider level.
Since 2005, ATD Fourth World in Ireland has invited family members to come together monthly for what have become known as Cross-Community meetings, held in Ozanam House in Mountjoy Square. These offer people in poverty and those who work alongside them a chance to think together about the role family and community life play in the fight against poverty. In 2006 and 2007, discussion themes have included the efforts people in poverty make to give their children and young people a more secure future, and the fundamental human rights that people in poverty are themselves constantly trying to defend. In this dialogue, we also draw on the experience and expertise of community and voluntary groups involved with vulnerable families and communities, and also those involved at national level in drawing up and evaluating Ireland's anti-poverty programmes and plans. Contact us if you would like to know more about this on-going dialogue.
"What we want the world of adults to understand is that our parents have dreams for us. If you really want to help us, then understand what our parents want for us, and support them in making it happen." Children speaking to Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, November 1998, Geneva