Towards healthy families in
healthy
communities
During
more than 35 years international and local NGOs involved in poverty
alleviation in developing countries have made many mistakes but also
learned a lot. One of the lessons learned has been that the
“charity”
or relief aid did not give opportunities and tools for local people to
grow in their capacity and to take full responsibility
about their
life. Local communities were not participating but were reduced to
passive beneficiaries for whom the aid was offered from outside (e.g.
from Western countries or national and local governments). In many
cases very little or nothing was left after the outside support was
stopped.
The
agencies have been obliged to develop an approach, which focuses on
partnership with and participation of local communities. Expatriates or
national organisations are facilitating the process in which the
capacity and resources of the local communities and NGOs are to be used
and multiplied in an effective way.
The
results of this approach have been very encouraging all over the
developing world and also in Jordan. Instead of getting only short-term
relief local poor villages or vulnerable groups in cities have become
able to develop their life and organise themselves for the benefit of
the whole community.
This
is exactly what Fida Development Co-operation Agency is aiming for
in Jordan. It has a vision of long-term partnership for development
with local communities (see more details in the section
“Strategy” in
this home page). The end results are healthy families in healthy
communities where an increasing number of families have learned to
think more positively about their life opportunities and to take
advantage of their improved capacity. This will not, of course, happen
overnight but it is possible to start after committing to make
sustainable efforts, at first in partnership and later independently.
I Mission statement
Our
mission is to encourage Jordanian people in need, especially
poor rural communities or other vulnerable groups, to develop their
life and community in a comprehensive and sustainable way.
II Vision 2006-2010
1.
We will empower local partners to reach sustainable positive impacts in
poor communities through community-based, holistic development work.
2.
In order to strengthen the positive community impacts we wish to pursue
multiplication of the capacity for holistic development work in Jordan
and neighbouring areas.
III Core activities
1.
Building up of the vision and capacity of the local partners through
training, awareness raising and comprehensive mutual co-operation in
various fields of holistic development work.
2.
Training and facilitating sustainable community development principles
and practices in cooperation with also those who are not actual
partners. This means active networking in Jordan and in the
neighbouring areas.
3.
Continuous follow-up, evaluation and development of this strategy.
IV Values and principles
• Human dignity
Every
individual has an equal value and importance as a creation of God.
• Holistic
welfare
Welfare
of individuals and communities consists of several dimensions:
economic, social, cultural, mental etc.
• Priority for
activities with economically and socially poor and vulnerable
Poverty
is not only referring to material deficits but also to the lack
of social and cultural status or capacity.
• Participation
and partnership
The
key for reaching our mission is an empowering partnership with
local organizations and communities.
• Local ownersip
Local
communities should own the projects and their fruits.
• Preventive
approach for social, economic and health problems
Curative
activities are needed but it is much more helpful if the
problems could be prevented before they occur and affect human
suffering.
• Sustainable
impacts on the community
The
community will become empowered to have strong positive influence
in its future life.
•
Multiplication
of skilled community development NGOs and workers
The
positive community impacts are increasing exponentially when the
skilled actors are trained to train others.
• Appreciation
of
local culture and language
Development
efforts should be adapted to the indigenous culture as much
as possible.
V Success factors
• Committed local
and expatriate personnel
Fully committed means hard-working attitude.
•
Professionalism
When you have a huge challenge you simply must be professional.
• Good
expertise
and continuous learning process
Without continuous learning attitude you are becoming former
professional.
• Local and
international networking
Development is team work. Lessons learned could become national and
global knowledge.
• Reasonable
use
of financial resources
Financial resources are to be allocated according to proper development
plans and implementation efforts.
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