5 key questions to get to know LIFE

LIFE began as a neighbourhood association run by volunteers with big dreams. Today it is an international aid NGO with hands-on experience of humanitarian work in the field. Since 2009, we have been serving people in need in 25 countries, and more than 13.3 million people have already received our help. Every day, we work tirelessly to grow our positive footprint on the planet a little more.

Who are we?

LIFE is a private, not-for-profit association under the French law of 1901. It is politically and religiously independent and officially recognised as serving the public interest. Our headquarters are in France.

Our purpose is to help the people who need it most, whether in emergencies or through development work. We aim to help strengthen or restore their situation, in particular through access to safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and food security.

We are guided by a vision that puts life at the heart of everything we do, and by an unshakeable determination to make a real difference to the people we support. We act with respect for human dignity, with commitment and with a spirit of innovation.

What is our vision?

Our name means something. It sums up our bold vision: to put life at the heart of everything we do. We are committed not only to human life, but to every living thing we share our planet with, from animals to plants.

Through this firm commitment to stand on the side of life, we want to build a better world where everyone can live a dignified, fulfilling life, beyond every divide.

We dream of a world where no one dies of hunger, thirst or diseases caused by a lack of clean water and proper hygiene. A world where every human being has the same chance to succeed, whatever their background, country or religion.

What is our mission?

Our teams are determined to bring real change to people's lives in every corner of the world. In the field, they deliver emergency relief and run development programmes covering water, sanitation and hygiene, education and environmental protection.

Our mission is to make a difference by improving living conditions for those who need it most, and to support them on their path to self-reliance.

Everything we do aims to support local communities as they become self-reliant. This is a vital issue at the heart of our NGO. We want to sow the seeds of deep, lasting change by working hand in hand with local partners.

In this mission, we can count on the precious, unconditional support of a growing community of more than 180,000 loyal donors: true Lifechangers!

What are our values?

Our work is driven by 8 core values:

- respect for dignity: something we keep in mind at all times, whether

in the field or in how we communicate with the public.

- human fraternity: this means kindness and

respect for others, with deep respect for each person's individuality. Our NGO stands for solidarity and sees itself as a civic association that brings communities and peoples together.

- supporting self-reliance: our missions come to life through development programmes that encourage communities to take the lead. Together, we are shaping a future where everyone is driven by the wish to build a better world.

- independence: we act independently, in line with international humanitarian law and the law of each country where we work. This independence allows us to take on actions and causes with complete impartiality, to change lives.

- transparency: we report on conditions in the field realistically, accurately, consistently and respectfully.

- efficiency: a discipline the whole NGO holds itself to, so that we use our resources in the best possible way, effectively and to the highest standard. This is how we maximise our impact and build a better future, where every action sows the seeds of real, lasting change.

- innovation: innovation is at our core. It helps us shift boundaries, strengthen our impact and keep going further. You can see it in the field, in pioneering projects that transform lives, and in the way we fundraise and communicate.

- inspiration from Muslim values: historically, it was Muslim values that led to the founding of the organisation. LIFE's 7 values above reflect this ethic.

What are our areas of work?

Working closely with our local partners, we deliver practical action and lasting solutions across 4 areas of work:

Water, sanitation and hygiene 💧

More than two billion people around the world still lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation. In many countries, clean water is a luxury. Every drop counts.

To bring this source of life to those who need it, we focus on WASH, our main area of work. We run programmes that provide access to safe drinking water by building water fountains and water towers. We ease the hard daily lives of hundreds of women and children who walk tens of kilometres every day to reach a source of clean water. We are also stepping up our work on sanitation and hygiene by building toilets.

Food security 🍽️

This is our second major area of work. Even today, as many as 828 million people go hungry.

We work tirelessly to ensure food security for all. Access to

enough good-quality food is a fundamental right.

Through emergency operations and one-off support, we distribute food parcels and hot meals all year round with our "1 euro = 1 meal" campaign, bringing joy and a glimmer of hope to those in need. We have already distributed more than 59 million meals around the world!

Education 🎒

Don't they say the future is shaped in the classroom? Education is a fundamental right. Yet 244 million children aged 6 to 18 around the world are still out of school.

So that every child can get a good education, we offer the best investment of all time: sponsoring a child's schooling.

We hand out school kits containing a school bag, a pencil case, exercise books, pens, felt-tip pens, a ruler, a rubber and more, so that children have all the supplies they need to attend school regularly.

We also provide every child with a full, balanced meal. Now they come to school knowing they will have enough to eat and can focus fully on their studies. For most of them, this is their only meal of the day, which shows just how much this initiative matters. Beyond the pupils' encouraging results, school canteens also boost the local economy by supporting local farmers and creating jobs within communities.

Together, we can shape a world where every child has the chance to grow into a fulfilled, independent adult.

Environmental protection 🌱

Every minute, our planet loses forest equivalent to 36 football pitches. That is a loss of 13 hectares a year, the size of England. Polar bears, tigers, orangutans… By 2100, half of the species we admire could disappear because of habitat loss.

Through our Sapousse programme, we run sustainable environmental projects that support reforestation.

We create food forests made up of "economic" trees that not only help restore the ecosystem but also provide valuable resources, giving communities a regular income. We strengthen communities by setting up Green Initiatives that encourage sustainable livelihoods, such as sustainable fish farming, market gardening, and education and training in sustainable agriculture. These projects make local people more self-reliant and help them live in harmony with nature.

We don't just plant trees. We plant seeds of hope and the promise of a better future.

Areas of work that complement each other

The way our areas of work complement each other is central to how we improve the lives of the communities we serve. Our integrated projects reflect this commitment to the well-being and self-reliance of local communities, and show that when these areas come together, their impact runs even deeper.

For example, a community with access to safe drinking water can devote more time to sustainable farming, improving food security for everyone in the village.

Join us and make a difference. Become a Lifechanger! Together, we can change lives and build a fairer, more sustainable world.