Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund
Our founder and original chairman Michael Thomas established FIOH as registered charity in July 1995 ( No. 1047953). After reading an inspirational book written by Erik Dammann
Erik Dammann (9 May 1931 – 21 June 2025) was a Norwegian author, environmentalist and government scholar. He was mostly known for founding of the organization, The Future in Our Hands (Framtiden i våre hender).[1][2] In 1982, he was awarded the Right Livelihood Award for “challenging Western values and lifestyles in order to promote a more responsible attitude to the environment and the third world”. In 2011, he was knighted by the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav
Current chairman of trustees Alan Stewart retired teacher of 40 years experience
Sustainability
The FIOH Fund supports approaches that aim to alleviate poverty in a sustainable way by focussing on projects which:
- are initiated by poor people through local non-government organisations
- incorporate a strong element of education and training
- enhance the status and involvement of women in the development process
- create ecological awareness
An enabling and motivating approach
Our approach is based on a belief that development policies imposed on a community, without proper consultation and the active involvement of the people, can frequently compound their problems and create a climate of dependency.
The FIOH Fund has helped to empower people in peace, conflict and natural disaster situations to establish activities which are both economically and environmentally sustainable in the long term.
The Fund has supported a wide variety of projects which reflect our philosophy in urban slums, leprosy colonies and poor rural areas.
How you can help
We welcome your support whether you would like to make an individual donation or would like to become involved in fund-raising for a specific project.
We can supply details of individual small projects and feedback as the project progresses.
Since its registration in July 1995, the charity has supported projects in Cameroon, Pakistan, India, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Philippines, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Ghana, Tanzania, Gambia and Sri Lanka, with a focus on helping the world’s poorest and most marginalized communities. Many of the projects in India have helped tribal communities.
Most projects have involved an element of women’s empowerment, education and vocational training. The chart below shows the apportionment of FIOH Fund grants (1995 – 2015) into broad categories.
The charity is currently focussing most of its grant support on the treatment and rehabilitation of severely disabled children in the Cameroon through its partner organisation Global Rehabilitation Services. An update on the project can be seen in the newsletter below:
FIOH FUND NEWSLETTER 2 – WINTER 2017
We welcome your support whether you would like to make an individual donation or would like to become involved in fund-raising for a specific project.
We can supply details of individual small projects and feedback as the project progresses.
Long-term support helps us to plan for the future. If you would like to help in this way you might like to complete a bankers order instruction. If you are living in the UK and pay tax at the standard rate or more we can claim an extra 25% from the Inland Revenue at no cost to yourself if you complete a gift aid declaration.
Both are to be found on the same FIOH FUND DONATION FORM
Please print off from this site and send to the address below (not to your bank):
Registered Charity Number 1047953
FIOH FUND – ANNUAL REPORT 2014 – 2015