PHILOSOPHY OF DEVELOPMENT

WE BELIEVE that the goal of development is the improvement of the human condition through the empowerment of people, the development of people’s capacity to transform their own situation by their own means. It seeks to build a society on the foundation of sustained social and economic justice, democratic participation, and freedom from external domination.

WE AFFIRM that development activities must start where people are in their level of awareness, and move forward at the pace that the people’s own pace dictates. We must move forward not ahead of the people, not behind them, but in step with them.

WE ASSERT that the people must be the primary participants in all phases of the development process: in identifying needs, forming plans of action, implementing plans, and evaluating the results. The role of the development workers is to facilitate the process whereby the people acquire the skills, knowledge, attitudes and techniques that promote their responsible participation.

WE PROMOTE self-help and self-reliance in our various development activities. We encourage the mobilization of available talents, resources, technology, labor power and other resources. External resources must only be sought when these are not available locally, and when these will enhance the spirit of self-reliance. 

WE ADHERE that development activities must be sensitive to the local community’s beliefs, customs and traditions. Development activities that disregard the people’s culture and history are bound to fail.

WE PERCEIVE that development is a liberating process. It must lead to people’s critical awareness of the forces that promote their welfare. It must empower the people to undertake transforming community actions.

WE BELIEVE that development is God’s work of love and mercy. We seek to obey the paradigm of salvation that began with the Exodus, was revealed in the ministry of Jesus Christ, and will lead to the establishment of God’s Kingdom of love, justice and peace everywhere.

THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT. WE WILL STRUGGLE ON NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, AT WHATEVER COST. SO HELP US GOD!