We understand and acknowledge that helping can be a two-edged sword, bringing apparent benefit to distressed communities while at the same time creating a legacy that is less than beneficial. When it’s not done right, helping can create dependency and foster a sense of helplessness and loss of self- esteem in the target community and its members.

We are committed to thinking carefully about the type of help we offer. We want our giving to be a gift that builds capacity, meets real needs and encourages the needy to participate in their own upliftment. We want our beneficiaries to grow and mature, to gain the skills they need to eventually stand on their own two feet. Our giving must be empowering to the community rather than just providing temporary relief. We want our giving to be sustainable so that the benefit outlasts our involvement with the community.

We believe in being open, honest and accountable with all our stakeholders, and will seek to encourage similar accountability in those we work with.  We want to be honest about what we can and cannot do, and do our best to under-promise and over-deliver. 

We believe that all people are equal, and will endeavour to ensure that we treat people as equals, respecting their opinions and ideas.  We acknowledge that we will learn more from our beneficiaries, than we will be able to teach them.  We believe that it is important to listen more than we speak, and to hear and appropriately evaluate the opinions of the community leadership.