1. What is the Damien Foundation and how does it act?
The Damien Foundation is a Belgian non-governmental organisation, recognised by the Belgian government, working in the development sector and specialised in leprosy and tuberculosis control.
Upon request by an official authority, such as the local Ministry of Health, we provide the technical and financial means to back up national or regional anti-leprosy and tuberculosis programmes – we enter into a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Health of the country concerned.
2. Where does the Damien Foundation’s money come from?
From 2003-2007, 50% of our income originated from donations by the Belgian public, 24% was co-financed by the Belgian government, 16% was inherited, 2% was co-financed by the European Union, 4% came from members of ILEP and 4% from sundry sources such as portfolio interests, regional subsidies, Belgian municipalities and provinces.
3. May a government-sponsored programme such as ours, acting in a country which has hitherto not received support from the Damien Foundation receive aid?
Yes, provided your country has a demonstrably low or average level of development, please see the United Nations Human Development Index. Your request must be written and accompanied by information on the programme, its partners, any available epidemiological data and difficulties encountered, stating reasons why the Damien Foundation should provide support.
Address: Damien Foundation, Projects Department,
263, Boulevard Léopold II, 1081 Brussels, Belgium, or mail to: info.projects@damien-foundation.be.
Your request will be looked into by the Projects Department and compared with the acceptance criteria for other new projects. The final decision will also be based on our Foundation’s financial and management capacity.
4. May our NGO, acting in a developing country, receive aid?
Yes, provided the country concerned has a level of development which is demonstrably low or below average, please see the United Nations Human Development Index and if your organisation wishes to cooperate with the country’s official health structure. Your request must have received the support of the Ministry of Health – see also our answer to question 3 above on how to submit a request and about file content.
5. If its campaign is based in my country, can I help the Damien Foundation?
It will depend upon your qualifications and experience and the kind of help you would like to give. Our advice is to contact the Damien Foundation’s representative in your country – the details you will doubtless find on this site under the section entitled “contact”.
6. Shall I be able, in one of the projects it supports, to work for the Damien Foundation?
The Damien Foundation only employs expatriate personnel if a suitable person cannot be found in the countries where the Foundation operates. In 2006, in fifteen such project-oriented countries, only ten expatriates are currently employed. We tend to work more with local personnel, to whom we offer the necessary training and medium- or long-term employment. Above all, we employ doctors, especially those knowledgeable regarding public health and experienced in leprosy or tuberculosis, plus managers (finance, logistics, administration …). Consult the section entitled “employment” on this site concerning international employment, involving a contract with the DF in Belgium. As regards local employment in the countries where we work, please contact our local representative – see “contacts”.
7. Does the Damien Foundation deliver scholarships?
No, or at least not to persons not working in a programme that the Foundation supports. If you are working in a programme we support and wish to receive more information, please contact the Foundation’s representative for your country.