top of page

History

SHRF was established on 4 June 1999 with a founding capital of NOK 1,000,000. According to the gift certificates the three founders Dr. Martin Schøyen, Bodil Schøyen and Frode Larsen contributed with NOK 998,000, NOK 1,000 and NOK 1,000 respectively.

Through later contributions from Dr. Martin Schøyen the founding capital has been increased to NOK 75,000,000.

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Foundation was named the Schøyen Human Rights Foundation in honour of Engineer M. O. Schøyen (1896-1962).

In 1921 he founded the Bus transportation company Ing. M. O. Schøyens  Bilcentraler A/S. This company with subsidiaries is the original source of the funds allocated to the foundation, and funds that will be allocated in the future through the will of Dr. Martin Schøyen, his son. These funds are presently mainly placed in property and the Schøyen Collection of manuscripts, antiquarian books, antiquities and art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides collecting since 1955 Dr. Martin Schøyen has been engaged in charity projects since 1971 when he first learned about the infamous "Walled City" in Hong Kong and actually visited it the year after. Children who grew up there never seeing the blue sky, made an everlasting impression. Since then he supported the Hsin on Primary School, built on the roofs of the shacks so the children could see the sun and be taken care of. He also, for instance, supported named children in La Paz and in Nairobi, and sent a special envoy to Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta with a substantial donation.

 

In continuation of these aid projects and realizing he had no heirs,  came the idea of establishing a perpetual foundation for charity work and promotion of Human Rights, so the proceeds of his fortune could do benevolent acts to humanity in all foreseeable future, and thus SHRF came into being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT SHRF HAS DONE SO FAR

 

Since the start the proceeds of the foundation capital has been distributed to yearly projects, both as direct support and through NGO's as appears on the Survey of Annual Distribution of Funds.

The amounts have varied between NOK 7,000 and 100,000 a year. Measuring effects on aid is as always difficult, but all projects have been followed up and all funds have gone directly to the object. The only case of measurable effect has been the malaria vaccination project to Médicins Sans Frontières where the lives of approximately 3,000 children were saved in 2013.

 

There has been no administrative personnel employed in these years. The Chairman of the board and board members and the accountant have all generously worked for free. The only costs have been audit and public fees. Apart from these, all proceeds less an inflation adjustment have gone to the appropriate object. The inflation adjustment has been added to the capital to prevent it being reduced due to inflation, to keep it intact in all foreseeable future. See more details in the Statutes art. 4

 

Thus the SHRF has operated at a minimum, but with optimal effect. This is expected to last until  considerable proceeds from the sale of all or larger sections of the collections of Dr. Martin Schøyen can be added to the founding capital, or all property and collections according to his will can be transferred to SHRF. 

 

​

martinolsen.jpg
M. O Schøyen,
founder of the bus company
"Out in the sun", for Oslo`s poorer children. Arranged by Inga "Utflukt" Bjørnson, with M. O Schøyen and his first "bus" from Tordenskjolds Plass to Bygdøy in 1928.
barnbuss.jpg
Martinbokhylle.jpg
Martin Schøyen
in his manuscript library
magnacarta.jpg
Manuscript.jpg
Magna Carta regranted 1217, Manuscript of the Great English Freedom charter of
Human Rights (MS 563)
Histoire Ancienne,
Royal Manuscript from France, 1375:
Illustration of the birth of Caesar
by caesarion section (MS 27)
buss.jpg
The yellow and green colors of the logo descend from the Schøyen buses 
bottom of page