Who are we ?
Van For Life is a humanitarian organization based in Geneva, born out of a citizens’ movement in response to the conflict in Ukraine. Largely made up of volunteers, it works directly in the field to deliver rapid, targeted, and deeply human assistance to the most vulnerable populations.
Our mission is simple and clear : to provide direct assistance to people in crisis, to deliver humanitarian aid efficiently along migration routes, and to support the integration of those received in host countries.
Independent of any political, religious, or ethnic affiliation, our organization places people at the very heart of its actions. Above all, our aim is to safeguard the basic physical and psychological integrity of individuals, with particular attention to those most at risk.
We uphold strong values : independence, direct contact with beneficiaries, full control of the logistical chain to guarantee efficiency and resource optimization, and above all, dignity in every intervention.
Today, Van For Life operates in Ukraine, Switzerland, and Greece.
At the same time, we are developing an Emergency Fund, enabling us - depending on resources - to respond quickly in sensitive areas, as we have done in Calais (France), the Hautes-Alpes, or at the Poland–Belarus border.
Given the many migration routes, we also plan in the short term to expand our activities to other areas in need, such as Andalusia and the Balkans.
What we do
Our mission is built on three main objectives :
- Provide direct assistance to vulnerable people in crisis situation
- Deliver and transport targeted aid effectively along migration routes
- Support and accompany people in their integration within host countries
The founding principle of our work is direct contact with beneficiaries and all stakeholders.Â
Dialogue is fundamental to us - not only to define direct and targeted support, but also to coordinate and optimize our actions, making them all the more effective
Our Guiding Principles
Engage Directly
We believe in direct action and dialogue : by engaging with people affected by displacement, we can understand their situation and provide targeted, effective assistance.
Act on the Ground
When people are forced to take the routes of exile, it is on these very routes that we must meet them and offer help wherever possible.
Human-centred
We put people first, regardless of their background : it is unacceptable that in the 21st century, individuals and families find themselves in extreme precarity or survival situations.
