In memoriam

Hans Høegh, founder and former President of A Better Life Foundation, former Secretary General Emeritus of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and former President of the Norwegian Red Cross, passed away at the age of 84 on the 31st of October, 2010 in Oslo. A humanitarian through and through, Hans Høegh will be much missed at the Foundation for his never-ending enthusiasm and drive to assist people who were less fortunate.

Hans Høegh's strong belief in the power of people helping others to help themselves was the cornerstone for the Foundation that he created in 2000. Through this belief he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the poor, marginalized and disabled people of this world. What he achieved for them through his many humanitarian projects, not only in Burkina Faso but all over the world, is indeed his permanent memorial.

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The members, direction and staff of A Better Life Foundation wish to extend their sincere thanks for the many messages of support and sympathy received upon the death of Mr. Hans Hoegh.

Background

Our Aim, What We Do and Where

In one of Africa's poorest countries, Burkina Faso, extreme poverty is everywhere. Even for the able-bodied, it is often a struggle just to survive; to be born there not just poor but also disabled therefore is to suffer a tragic fate...

The homeless disabled struggling to survive on the streets of its largest city, Ouagadougou, have nowhere to go to meet their most basic needs - to use a toilet, to wash, to have a hot meal and to get some first aid. Despairing at the indifference being shown to their desperate needs, A Better Life Foundation was established in Geneva in 2000. Its aim was 'to improve the lives of some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people - the disabled, the elderly, the homeless and the discriminated-against - and to help them defend their interests and rights in society'.